DPJ, LDP lawmakers observe disputed Senkaku islands
TOKYO —
Two lawmakers got a close-up look at the disputed islands in the East China Sea on Saturday, coast guard officials said Sunday.
Koichi Mukoyama, a member of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan from Hyogo Prefecture, and Yoshitaka Shindo, a member of the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party from Saitama Prefecture, spent about six hours in the area, observing three of the islands which are claimed by Japan, China and Taiwan, NHK reported.
Their visit follows the Jan 4 landing by four Japanese citizens, including local politicians, on the uninhabited islands, known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, which drew an official protest from Beijing.
Beijing said the visits are raising concerns, as Japan and China commemorate the 40th anniversary of normalization of diplomatic ties this year.
“China’s determination to safeguard its sovereignty of the Diaoyu islands is unswerving,” foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said in a statement in which he reiterated Beijing’s “indisputable sovereignty” over the chain of islands.
Taiwan has also protested to Japan. “We reiterate that the Diaoyu islands are part of our territory and we oppose any remarks or actions by Japan that violate our sovereignty,” said foreign ministry spokesman James Chang.
The Japanese government leases the islands from private land owners, and bans entry in a bid to prevent political incidents.
Japan Today/AFP
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-1
issa1
“China’s determination to safeguard its sovereignty of the Diaoyu islands is unswerving,” foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said in a statement in which he reiterated Beijing’s “indisputable sovereignty” over the chain of islands.
Do not make me laugh! Go,go, Nippon!
1
smithinjapan
Why would you want to go look at a pile of rocks when you could go enjoy a trip elsewhere?
1
Laguna
Veni, vidi, kaeri.
0
paulinusa
Did they take photos? Videos? Notes? The only thing six hours of "observing" accomplishes is a bit of political theater for the folks back home.
-3
sunhawk
sovereignty of the islands was never indispute until a few decades ago when oil and natural gas fields were discovered in the water surrounding the islands.
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PT24881
Observing from distance repeatedly one-by-one meant to be a typical habit of the politicians in this country ? The Northern Territories found half a dozen of these guys flying around last years.. From which budget they paid for these meaningless acts ?
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