Japan-S Korea islet row spoils more cultural exchanges

Wednesday 23rd July, 04:08 PM JST

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usaexpat at 11:35 PM JST - 23rd July

It isn't often that the Japanese side is more reasonable in disputes but this time, no matter who you think the rocks belong to, South Korea is the irrational party. It's a shame really but not unexpected, keep killing pheasants boys the rest of the world is laughing.
Piglet at 11:38 PM JST - 23rd July

According to international law, there is no clear reason to justify why the Liancourt Rocks (International name of the islands) would belong to Japan. The jurisprudence would most likely give the rocks to South-Korea. Furthermore, it is not acceptable that any democratic country promotes a biased view of the world by making it mandatory in history books for students (these books should be freely written by professionals with no interference from the government). The Korean reaction is however disproportionate and shows similar immaturity from the Korean elites. I think it would be more acceptable for everybody to accept it is a disputed territory and pursue long term negotiations (you give me this, I give you that...). Until then, nobody should claim full sovereignty. Japan is also not very clever, because it knows it never really apologized for the past and any provocation can stir up anger and confusion in neighboring countries. Is it necessary to remember that Japan is in territorial conflict with many of her neighbors (Russia, China, North and South Korea)? I think Japan should develop a real PR strategy (marketed by professional agencies), and have a more realistic approach to international relations. That said, the nationalism prevalent in South Korea is definitely as stupid and dangerous as in Japan.
Piglet at 11:47 PM JST - 23rd July

My solution: a Pacific Asian Union (a la European Union) with integrated policies and rules and unified market. Recent European history shows that when you're integrated in a larger ensemble with strong economic ties (same money, one big market, similar standards), you are less likely to enter into territorial dispute. This Union could integrate South Korea, Japan, Australia, Singapore, Philippines, maybe Malaysia and some other south-east Asian countries (who however have their own project). Every country joining the Union should respect a Charter, including some general aims: - no death penalty - democratic market economy - promotion of free market and creation of a big unique market for the Union (no more tariffs) - freedom of circulation inside the Union - common governance
OssanULTRA at 11:54 PM JST - 23rd July

"According to international law, there is no clear reason to justify why the Liancourt Rocks (International name of the islands) would belong to Japan. The jurisprudence would most likely give the rocks to South-Korea."

Let's find out. When will SKorea agree to go before the ICJ as Japan has been requesting since 1952?

"Furthermore, it is not acceptable that any democratic country promotes a biased view of the world by making it mandatory in history books for students (these books should be freely written by professionals with no interference from the government)."

Both countries claim that these rocks our theirs in their textbooks. Except in Japan, they state that it is under dispute.

Japan is also not very clever, because it knows it never really apologized for the past and any provocation can stir up anger and confusion in neighboring countries."

All matters between Japan and SKorea were settled in 1965. Using past history as an excuse to behave in a manner unacceptable to today's international society is absurd.

"Is it necessary to remember that Japan is in territorial conflict with many of her neighbors (Russia, China, North and South Korea)?"

Irrelevant to the issue. Is it necessary to remember that Skorea is still in a state of war with North Korea?

"That said, the nationalism prevalent in South Korea is definitely as stupid and dangerous as in Japan."

The nationalist right wing in Japan are a fringe group of black truck driving nutbags and looked upon that way by the Japanese population. The nationalist right wing in SKorea is clearly far more influencial throughout Skorean society and powerful enough to actually pressure their govt. I don't think there's any comparison between the two.
Nessie at 12:02 AM JST - 24th July

I saw make it a whale sanctuary and piss EVERYONE off.
chardk1 at 12:25 AM JST - 24th July

OssanUltra,

I "disagree" with you (well not really), in that obsession with Dokdo and a grudge toward Japan and the United States based on perceived unsettled scores is not a characteristic of the Korean nationalist right wing, it is a pretty common sentiment across ideological demographics. Just look at the fact that both the left wing Roh Moo-Hyun and the right wing Lee Myung-Bak factions, while detesting one another, agree on one thing -- when in doubt, bust out the anti-US and anti-Japan rhetoric. I don't think it is a matter of the Korean nationalist right wing being more "influential," there's a different mindset altogether.

I suppose it's possible the Koreans are 125% right on everything, as they claim. But strangely, in my experience people who are so much in the right don't usually throw violent hissy fits, bully the other party into silence or bring up tangential wrongdoings of 100 years ago to justify one's own bad behavior now. If that is what it means to be the "good guy" I'll be wrong, thanks.
OssanULTRA at 12:55 AM JST - 24th July

chardk1

Thank you for your views. I suspect that you have a deeper insight into SKorea's society and politics than I do. Having differing opinions, having territorial disputes are one thing, but behaving like lunatics is another. And I guess that's where my own prejudices blind me- Democratic countries arent suppose to behave like this. Especially industrialy and technologically developed nations. I also believe that democracies are capable of sitting down with each and negotiating solutions to problems, not threatening war at every turn. In the 1970s the CIA had predicted that NKorea would slowly and seemlessly infiltrate the high levels of SKorean govt, academics and society to the point that Skorea would no longer be a viable US ally. In one week, NKorean solders shoot an unarmed 53 year old female tourist, and Japan puts their ownership of Takeshima/Doko into their textbooks with a statement that it is under dispute. Yet SKorea is ready to go to war with Japan. Something is amiss. More and more I am begining to think that we (the United States) really needs to re-think our relationship and military comittment to SKorea.
ca1ic0cat at 02:18 AM JST - 24th July

yeah, Nessie, you've got the solution! And perhaps Russia can patrol the waters?
Molenir at 03:52 AM JST - 24th July

Why not, they think they own all the other islands around anyway.
Triple888 at 06:16 AM JST - 24th July

Next Japan should suspend Kimchi from their restaurants and Korea should suspend Sushi.
teaabe at 09:52 AM JST - 24th July

i don't know if i'd go to korea now... having said that, there is an Asian Union (A.U.) in the works at A.S.E.A.N.
i designed the flag - it's basically the E.U. flag, but with its stars white and the background a Tiffany Blue.
bushlover at 10:23 AM JST - 24th July

I just wish the US Navy would go there and blow the bloody rocks out of the water to shut them all up about it.

And I think what they meant is not this: [Chuncheon sent a letter to Kakamigahara, saying, ‘‘It is not wise for us to carry out the project at such a time"] but [...Sent a letter to Kakamigahara, saying "It would not be safe for young Japanese people to come here because of our narrow minded people who would blame them for anything they perceive as anti-korean no matter what their knowledge of the situation."] That would make more sense but then I'm no political analist.
chardk1 at 10:49 AM JST - 24th July

OssanULTRA,

It is ironic because some Koreans on this board have accused me of being anti-Korean. I am of Korean descent myself, but I strongly feel that the "my country right or wrong, our beliefs true or false" kind of nationalistic patriotism we've been seeing never leads to any good, and that fostering this kind of Orwellian thinking in a society is much more insidious than the underlying territorial dispute. It is sad that this world view, which was intended to be progressive and rational, has caused me to be accused of being a pro-Japanese neocon.

I just saw an article in Slate.com showing how the Saudi government continues to publish elementary school textbooks containing radical Wahhabi doctrines (a sample "test question" asked if it was all right to not hate non-Muslims - the answer, no). This is bad enough in their own country, but many Islamic schools around the world use these textbooks because the Saudi government gives them away for free to anyone who wants them and often these schools don't have much money.

When stuff like this is going on how can anybody act like Japanese textbooks noting that ownership of Dokdo is disputed is some kind of war crime? Why don't the Koreans break off diplomatic ties with the Saudis? Like you, all I want is civility and consistency. If you can't be either (and I recognize it's tough in a complicated world) then at least don't act like butter won't melt in your mouth. There will always be conflicts of interest in a world with finite resources, to turn them all into battles between good and evil can only lead to violence and prejudice.
SuperLib at 01:07 PM JST - 24th July

During times like this the two countries need to increase their exchanges, not decrease them.
hermitage at 02:15 PM JST - 26th July

It's clearly over-reaction on the Korean side.

I can understand Korean people hate and the imperial Japan in the past that annexed Korea and expoited Korean people. I can understand Korean people hate Hideki Tojo who led Japan during WWII.

On the other hand, they should also look at their old leader Syngman Rhee, how good or bad what he did in his reign.

Look at facts objectively, and keep calm. Or, nothing can be understood well.