An unprecedented incident occurred in which around 10 Korean and Japanese patrol boats were confronted each other for more than 30 hours on either side of the Korean eel-fishing boat Sinpung. It left a bitter taste because it showed you how flammable relations have become.
It is at least fortunate that the matter ended relatively smoothly. The standoff occurred in Korea's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), so it was a matter of course that Korea exercise jurisdiction over Sinpung. It was wrong for the boat to resist inspection by a Japanese patrol boat and take two Japanese crew with it at it made it escape, but there are aspects of what the captain is saying that are understandable. Survelience by Japanese patrol boats has intensified recently and they have seized and punished boats just for being in Japan's EEZ. Fishermen say it is highly likely that a similar incident is going to occur.
You wonder if the matter was something that had to end up a long confrontation at sea. It could have been ended early on had the two countries had strong mutual confidence or there been a system of cooperation on fishing activity surveillance in place. It felt like tension between each side has divided up the ocean, too, and that is unfortunate. Both governments will have to work in good faith to make sure that small disputes do not become international conflict for not being resolved immediately. There is also a need to seriously consider measures to deal with problems in the establishment and management of EEZ and the shrinkage of fishing operations, as noted by fishermen.
Even without this incident the relationship between Korea and Japan is uncomfortable right now, with things like past history, history fabrications in textbooks, and reckless remarks by high-ranking Japanese officials. Those are things that will be hard to resolve unless Japan demonstrates a good faith attitude. There is no reason, however, for there to be discord between each side in areas unrelated to those issues. Both countries need to turn what happened into something that ends up being a blessing.
The Hankyoreh, 3 June 2005.
[Translations by Seoul Selection (PMS)]
[Editorial] Korea-Japan Confrontation in the East Sea |
