It is crucial that many people in the nation have an accurate perception about territories and sovereignty. The government must make efforts to improve their education and awareness in this regard.
The Shimane prefectural government and other entities held a ceremony to commemorate "Takeshima Day" in Matsue on Feb. 22, the date when the Takeshima islands were formally incorporated into Shimane Prefecture in 1905. At the ceremony, Hiroshi Ando, a parliamentary vice minister of the Cabinet Office, stressed, "Resolving the Takeshima issue is a crucial challenge that involves [the nation's] sovereignty."
It was the seventh consecutive year that a parliamentary vice minister has been sent to the commemorative event. Handling territorial affairs is supposed to be a duty of the central government. It stands to reason that the central government actively backs related efforts by local governments.
Regarding the ceremony, the South Korean Foreign Ministry issued a statement that Seoul "expresses a strong protest over the fact that the Japanese side is continuing to make unjustifiable claims" over the islands. This is unacceptable.
Japan used Takeshima for sea lion hunting and other purposes and established its sovereignty over the islands in the mid-17th century. Under the San Francisco Peace Treaty signed after World War II, the Takeshima islands were not included among areas that Japan should renounce. It is evident that the Takeshima islands are an inherent territory of Japan historically as well as in terms of international law.
In 1952, South Korea unilaterally established the "Syngman Rhee Line" and took control of Takeshima. It seized Japanese fishing boats, causing casualties on the Japanese side. The illegal occupation by force is totally unacceptable.
The South Korean side has cited old maps and documents as the grounds for its sovereign claim over the islands, but the claim has many contradictions.
Look to international law
In the past, the Japanese government proposed three times that the dispute be referred to the International Court of Justice, but South Korea rejected the proposals. It is necessary to tenaciously urge Seoul to resolve the issue based on international law.
It is alarming that South Korea is pushing to make its illegal occupation of the islands a fait accompli. It has regularized military exercises near Takeshima and had a marine research ship sail around the islets this month. Rather than overlooking these unjustifiable acts, it is essential for the Japanese government to protest them each time.
The government should not neglect the handling of affairs related to the territorial issue out of concern over the deteriorating relationship between Japan and South Korea.
Education about territories is also vital. The Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry has revised courses of study for elementary, junior high and high schools to encourage teachers to teach students that the Takeshima and Senkaku islands are an inherent part of Japan's territory, as are the northern territories.
An environment should be developed to enable children to acquire knowledge based on accurate historical facts.
In January last year, the government opened the National Museum of Territory and Sovereignty in Tokyo. The museum aims to deepen public understanding of the Takeshima and Senkaku islands by collecting and displaying relevant materials. The government is considering relocating the museum for tenancy reasons. On this occasion, it is hoped that efforts will be made to expand the content of its exhibits.
Japan is urged to actively promulgate its position by taking advantage of international conferences and other occasions.
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 23, 2019)
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