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Japan protests for 32nd time this year after Chinese ships sail near disputed isles

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sailed into territorial waters

Would like more info. Does this mean the 12-mile territorial waters, or the 12-mile contiguous waters beyond, or the EEZ?

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Senkaku Islands belong to Japanese people for this reason there can be no dispute.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

On to 33! 33 is the one! I have a feeling that will be the one that finally beats back the colossal might of the Chinese navy

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Well apparently all the PROTESTING japan has been doing has proved ineffective,for as long as I can remember China has been treading into japanese waters,eventually they will just sail into Tokyo bay and plant their flag! I am sure abe wouldn't mind.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Instead of pointless moaning and bleating, perhaps they should sort the problem out. What are politicians paid such huge salaries and bonuses for? Surely not to go crying to mummy when the big boys play in their corner of the sand box.

-5 ( +4 / -9 )

So with this pace Japan's protests count may reach 40 this year (!)

2 ( +3 / -1 )

For all the critics of Japan here, Japan has 3 choices:

1-Ignore the incursions

2-Complain

3-Initiate a military conflict

The problems with 3 should be obvious, war is ugly. The problem with 1 is that by ignoring the incursions, Japan is de facto accepting them, opening the way for Chinese to take more aggressive action and claim the islands. That leaves number 3, complaining.

While it sounds ineffectual, the regular complaints help maintain Japan's claim to the islands in international law. As long as China continues being aggressive, and Japan wishes to avoid war, complaining is all they can do.

3 ( +9 / -6 )

That leaves number 3, complaining.

Number 2 was complaining, but other than that typo, I agree with your entire post.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Udondashi: "Senkaku Islands belong to Japanese people for this reason there can be no dispute."

And yet, when South Korea and Russia claim there is no dispute, for much of the same reasons and also they LIVE on the islands as well as administer them, you suddenly say it IS a dispute. Which is it?

-1 ( +5 / -6 )

So what really is is disputed that Japan annexed the Senkaus so should stop winging and deal with what they started and never finished with China and the west.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Make it 42. Two months to go.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

The 32nd meaningless protest. Like a nagging parent.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

@commanteer

Option 3 isn't an option - as you point out, war is ugly - but legally speaking, it isn't an option. If Chinese chips are simply sailing through Japanese territorial waters, they're not doing anything illegal or anything justifying war (especially from a country constitution-bound to only fight in self-defence). It's the same with US ships conducting FON operations and sailing through "Chinese waters" in the SCS. The interesting thing is how loudly China complains about the US doing it to them, while doing similar to Japan - at a frequency orders of magnitude greater. The best Japan can do is complain, and be ready for anything more serious.

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

Make it 52 and then a complaint for each week!

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Japan have just verified to the whole world 32 times that there is indeed a territorial and sovereignty dispute regarding ownership of the Senkakus.

This therefore contradicts the official Suga version denying such a problem.

This is just like what Abe is doin in Okinawa when his policy is that there is no territorial dispute between the Ryukyuan nation and the Amerikano colonizers!

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

commanteerNov. 06, 2016 - 07:15PM JST While it sounds ineffectual, the regular complaints help maintain Japan's claim to the islands in international law. As long as China continues being aggressive, and Japan wishes to avoid war, complaining is all they can do.

That only works with nations that recognize and abide by international law. Japan needs to put structures on the Senkakus ASAP. They should also become a routine route for JMSDF and USN. Let China whine all they want after that. Hillary Clinton was the first US Sec of State to tell China that the US will protect the Senkakus from any attempt at military takeover. They may be facing her as POTUS in a couple of months. China will keep being annoying and slowly chisel away at others' territories. But they aren't ready for a real fist fight.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

That only works with nations that recognize and abide by international law.

It's working right now - what is the problem? (Other than a little sabre rattling)

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

Japan calls the submerged table tennis large Okinitorisha reefs an island and claims a 200 nautical EEZ around it.

Tokyo recently hijacked a Taiwanese trawler fishing 198 nautical mile away from the rocks.

Japan therefore does not recognize and abide international laws just like the Amerikano colonizers of Okinawa.

China and the rightful owner of the Tiauyutai islands does not resort to such brazen acts of piracy 195 nautical miles away from the disputed isles.

It's evident therefore that Tokyo only whines when others are copying a very minute fraction of what they are doin in the Okinitorisha reefs!

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

32nd time? lol.

And to think that some consider Japan the 'aggressor' and 'war monger' here.

This is proof that Japan is weak. Clearly China isn't taking Japan seriously and brushing them off. It's like a bullied student going to his tormentor and protesting and pleading his case to stop.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

While the pacifists think that Comanteer's option 3 isn't an option, they keep forgetting that when someone is aggressively trying to take something from you that doesn't belong to them just because they want it you're going to have to put up your dukes so to speak. Nobody want's war, but China isn't going to stop with complaints because they'll only back off when someone shows that they'll be forcefully stood up against.

Remember, China's been doing the same thing with all of it's neighbors. Vietnam pushed back when China thought it could just plop down oil structures in Vietnamese territory. A very small few other nations started shooting at them. South Korea is having an issue with aggressive Chinese fishing vessels quite literally attacking their coast guard while illegally fishing in their territory.

China will not get the picture until someone puts their foot down and says enough.

Nobody want's war, but it's necessary to defend against an aggressor that is invading your space. Words won't stop them, and, diplomacy has been tried for decades and China' still does it. "Working it out" isn't going to happen when someone keeps ignoring your complaints.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Nobody want's war, but it's necessary to defend against an aggressor that is invading your space

Sailing through another country's territorial waters does not constitute invasion; ships have a legal right to do so, under UN law. Russia sailed a fleet through British territorial waters last week. China is a bully and a hypocrite and is certainly pushing the boundaries, but it hasn't (yet) crossed the line to making anything that would be legally recognised as territorial aggressions against Japan.

The funny thing is the stink that China kicks up if just one US ship does a sail-by in the Spratlys, while China's doing dozens a year in the Senkaku. This clearly shows they're rank hypocrites and they do need to be watched carefully; but they haven't actually done anything for Japan to defend against.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

send China singing telegrams, in person, to the delegate of their choice (The Fisher King style)

use putrid butter like Sea Shepard, the irony will be lost on both

laser etch the ships, notch them for every incursion so you know which ships are crossing over. Make an online tally and hold a raffle

send in drones with loudspeakers to the song She Ain't Pretty by the Northern Pikes

Many many options

0 ( +0 / -0 )

StrangerlandNov. 06, 2016 - 11:13PM JST That only works with nations that recognize and abide by international law. It's working right now - what is the problem? (Other than a little sabre rattling)

Really? When did China reverse itself and recognize the Hague judgement including the non-validity of the silly 9-dash line?

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Really? When did China reverse itself and recognize the Hague judgement including the non-validity of the silly 9-dash line?

How does asking a question answer a question?

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

But they aren't ready for a real fist fight.

It's not a fistfight - it's a war. I hate this kind of rhetoric. It's not a video game you are talking about.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

People are no longer being fooled by the kangaroo Hague Court ruling that tried to be identified with the UN but was not even acknowledged by the world body!

The PH was cajoled into spending 30 million USD to pick all 5 and chief arbiter of an ad hoc court plus the US lawyers fee when it was supposed to be an internationally sanctioned decorum that requires the 2 parties needing arbitration to choose 2 judges each then the 4 of them choosing the chief arbiter!

This is the flagrant foul that forced the UN to issue a very strong statement below:

http://m.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/1989486/united-nations-stresses-separation-hague-tribunal

Would Japan accept the verdict of a Hague tribunal with all 5 judges and the chief arbiter choosen by China regarding the Senkakus?

Fools gold!

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

StrangerlandNov. 07, 2016 - 08:11AM JST Really? When did China reverse itself and recognize the Hague judgement including the non-validity of the silly 9-dash >line? How does asking a question answer a question?

Tell us how the Hague ruling and international law is working right now.

StrangerlandNov. 06, 2016 - 11:13PM JST "That only works with nations that recognize and abide by international law."

It's working right now - what is the problem? (Other than a little sabre rattling)

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Tell us how the Hague ruling and international law is working right now.

First tell us how it's not working. I don't see any war, seems like everything is working to me.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

The bilateral talks between the PH and China accomplished more than the kangaroo Hague court ruling that was paid for by only one party.

Filipino fishermen are now back in Scarborough shoal earning a good income.

Japan should learn from this lesson and stop being an ostrich .

Tokyo should have talks with Beijing and Taiwan and hand over the Tiauyutai islands to the true owner which is Ilan county .

If Tokyo truly believes in the phony Hague tribunal ruling then she should stop calling submerged pea dot Okinorishima reefs an island and stop declaring that ridiculous 200 mile EEZ around it.

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

It is evident, from China's actions elsewhere (e.g. Scarborough Shoal) that China suffers from a sense of entitlement and will take whatever they can easily take. But as they have done nothing illegal re the Senkaku, the correct response from Japan is most definitely not to start a war; it's to make sure they maintain adequate defensive capability in the area that China is unable to muscle in on the Senkaku, while drawing attention to China's actions. With the increased troop, missile and naval deployments to Ishigaki & Yonaguni, I'd say they're playing it about right at the minute.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Is that four Chinese vessels against one Japan Coast guard? So, who really has the control of the islets? “Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s office beefed up its team in charge of monitoring Chinese ships,” does this mean they didn’t even know for sure how many more Chinese vessels were in the area? Maybe that’s why Tokyo didn’t even know how many protests they have lodged so far, “at least 32 protests.” This report shows that China has the control of the islets and not Japan. Another flaw in this report is in the last sentence, “a U.N.-backed tribunal,” the UN never backed the tribunal, perhaps this is intentional to deceive the public

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Yoshitune

But as they have done nothing illegal re the Senkaku

If you're talking about innocent passage, China's behavior is in quite grey almost black area.

Passage is innocent so long as it is not prejudicial to the peace, good order or security of the coastal State. Such passage shall take place in conformity with this Convention and with other rules of international law.

Remember the incident of hostile action taken 1/2013 by Chinese freegate 522 locked Japanese escourt vessel with its FCS radar? That happened not just once.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

StrangerlandNov. 07, 2016 - 12:40PM JST Tell us how the Hague ruling and international law is working right now. First tell us how it's not working. I don't see any war, seems like everything is working to me.

Read any news to see how it's not working. China still does not recognize, much less has any intention of abiding by the ruling, ad they have said so. They have not retracted their 9 dash line argument and they have declared their intent to keep on militarizing what they, and only they, consider to be their sovereign territory since ancient times.

So...how is it working on your planet?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

flowers

a U.N.-backed tribunal,” the UN never backed the tribunal, perhaps this is intentional to deceive the public

China is a signatory country of UNConventionLOS which was adopted by UNConferenceLOS that were held by UN as one of UN diplomatic conferences.

Both ITLOS and Arbitral Tribunal are formally designated as valid courts in article 287, UNCLOS, that means officially valid world courts.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

realitycheck,

If you're talking about innocent passage, China's behavior is in quite grey almost black area.

I refer you to the first comment I posted, at the top of the page; that's why I want to know if we're talking about the 12-mile territorial waters, or the contiguous waters, or the EEZ. What another country's ships can legally do in each of these is different; yes I agree, if it's the 12-nm waters then China is certainly pushing the boundaries of 'innocent passage', but not quite overstepping them; that is clearly their game. But to attack their vessels would be an act of war

0 ( +1 / -1 )

DieRealityCheck, The PCA was paid off by the Philippines in the sum of $30 mil and in turns, the US had contributed about $32 mil to the Philippines coffer afterwards. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon himself had stated that the UN has nothing to do with the case. “Since the PCA is not a UN-backed agency, its income relies on the arbitration services it provides to its clients. Unlike the judges from the ITJ who are paid by the UN, members of the PCA are paid from that same income the PCA earns.” “It was not even an international tribunal and had nothing to do with the ITLOS.”

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

@flowers

China did not agree to take the case to ICJ anyway in the first place. That’s given. PCA is a different organization from UN and UN has nothing to do with PCA. Yes. So?

Arbitral tribunal itself is not PCA. It is not Permanet Arbitral Tribunal It just happened to be set at PCA in Hague for this case.

Arbitral tribunal is formally listed up under Article 287 UNCLOS as one of 4 proper procedures for the settlement of disputes concerning the interpretation or application of UNCLOS which PRC ratified, which makes its arbitration ruling valid and legit as far as UNCLOS and the related disputes are concerned.

And UNCLOS is valid international law ratified at UNConventionLOS which was backed up by UN dipromatic conferences.

His statement just confused the related parties and world media and does really prove Ban Ki-moon one of the worst, useless SG of UN.

He can fine-tune whatever he likes depending on the situation. Look

< http://www.wam.ae/en/news/emirates-international/1395228419344.html>

0 ( +1 / -1 )

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