Korea and Japan: Dok-do
Dok-do is in the East Sea of Korea. Korea said, “There is no problem about ‘Dok-do’ dominium.” But Japan has insisted that the dispute lasted between Korea and Japan because of dominium of Dok-do. Korea claims that Ulleung-gun in Gyeongsangbuk-do contains Dok-do but Japan asserts that Goka-chon in Oki-goon in Shimane-hyeon includes the island.
Sept. 1951, the San Francisco peace treaty was created between the allied powers and Japan. The peace treaty said that Japan would give up 3,167 islands like Jeju-do, Geomun-do and Ulleung-do. But Dok-do was not mentioned.
Jan. 1952, Jan. the Korean government gave ‘Announcement of president about sovereign power on the sea of Korea’. So Korea decided to include Dok-do into the peace line to protect. However Japan complained about the decision. They sent a diplomatic document denying dominium of Korea about Dok-do to the Korean government. Since then, Dok-do has been seen as a troubled area of the world.
Jan. 1953, the Korean government ordered its army to arrest foreign boats invading the territorial sea of Korea. Korea arrested and fired at Japanese boats. The Japanese government insisted that 328 boats were broken and arrested, 44 Japanese people died, 3,929 Japanese people were interned.
Aug.1981, the Japan patrols boat ‘Oki’ violated Korea’s territorial sea and reached Dok-do up to about 500m. Crewman observed the lighthouse in Dok-do. The Korean government made a helicopter landing place on Dok-do in 1981, a radar base in 1993 and a docking facility for 500t boats, accommodation for fisherman in 1997,. and installed a watched lighthouse in 1998 year.
In 2005, the congress of Shimane-hyeon introduced an item to make day of ‘Dakesima’. ‘Dakesima’ is Dok-do in Japanese. Dakesima day was created in Japan. The Korean government complained about the action. Gyeongsangbuk-do made October as ‘the month of Dok-do’.
Jul. 2008, the Japanese government claimed that Dok-do is in Japan’s territory in middle school textbooks and announced to educate that Dakesima is Japan’s endemic territory from 2012. So the Korean government strongly complained to the Japanese government. This caused controversy that Japan invaded Korea’s sovereign power.
By Moon Jae-Woong
Korea and China: Ieo-do
Ieo-do had been an island that only appears in Jeju’s legendary story. Many wives in Jeju regarded Ieo-do as the illusory place where their husbands and sons lie down after they are drowned during fishing. In contrast to the sorrowful image of the island in the past, it has become the popular ‘land’ for some countries today.
Everyone is familiar with the fact that Korea’s southernmost island is ‘Mara-do’, yet the fact is not correct. Unfortunately, Ieo-do has often been ignored in Korea. In contrast with our indifferent perception, it has tons of valuable resources so that our neighbor country, China, covets the island.
Ieo-do is located 149km southwest of Mara-do. Seeing its topographical feature, it is rather a rock than an island that people can live on. Nevertheless, it is famous for its natural resources and the Ocean Research Station. The Ocean Research Station was established by Korea with its own technology to provide weather information of the sea and prepare for the sea traffic safety. Also some guards are stopping others from accessing Ieo-do.
According to China’s opinion, the island is owned by China. It seems that China envies the underground resources around the island. Moreover the location is very essential for the nation’s security and trade. China insists the EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone) line should be between Marado and Ieodo, which indicates that Ieodo is in China’s territory. However, in Korea’s view, the EEZ line is in the middle of the sea between China and Korea. This fact makes Ieodo be owned by Korea. In the territory of Exclusive Economic Zone, the specific country exerts sovereignty authority. For instance, the development of all the living things in the sea and the equipment of any structures are all up to the country in the Exclusive Economic Zone.
However, there is more to talk about the territorial dispute. As Ieodo’s location from the three countries (Korea, Japan, and China) is all different, the location can be the important ground for its ownership. It is located 149km from Marado of Korea, 276km from Dorishima of Japan, and 247km from Tungdao of China. According to the International Law of the Sea, a rock is owned by the nearest island that people live in. For this principle, it gains much possibility that Korea owns Ieodo.
The territorial dispute never seems to end. Therefore, for this long-term argument, it is needed that people give attention to our small islands.
By Kim Gyu-Jeong
China and Japan: Diaoyu Islands
The controversial dispute on the sovereignty of Diaoyu Islands stems from the outward expansion of Japan at the end of the 19th century, which is a historic issue. It is an important, sensitive subject for both sides to cope with and is crucial for bilateral ties.
Let’s have a brief look at the background and the history of these controversial islands, Diaoyu Islands, which are located just at the adjacent border with Japan and Taiwan. Diaoyu Islands, also Senkaku in Japanese, are uninhabited small islands, which cover less than 6.5 square kilometers and include Diaoyu Isle, Huangwei Isle, Chiwei Isle, South Isle and North Isle. The discovery of the uninhabited island, Diaoyu Isle, stems from the Ming Dynasty.
Its initial record comes from a book, which was finished in 1403. At first, it was affiliated with the Fujian Province and belonged to the Taiwan Province at the beginning of Qing Dynasty. So China now has abundant evidence for claiming these islands. Japan forced the Qing government to sign the Treaty of Shimonoseki after the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895 and snatched the Diaoyu Islands and the affiliated isles around it.
After the surrender of Japan in 1945, according to the Cairo Declaration and Potsdam Proclamation, Japan was obligated to return Taiwan and its affiliated islands at once. But as a matter of fact, the United States administered Okinawa Islands after WWII. And the United States reverted both Okinawa and Diaoyu Islands to Japan as a package in 1970, which was described by China as a mine planted by the United States for Sino-Japanese foreign relationship. Of course, as you can imagine, China regards this protocol as illegal and invalid.
As time passed, rich resources were explored around these islands. This is of great essence for such a country with immense shortage of raw materials and resources. So it’s logical for them to hold these uninhabited islands tightly. On Apr. 16, 2012, Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara said the metropolitan government plans to buy the Diaoyu Islands.
Then On Aug. 15 a total of 14 Chinese nationals were illegally detained by Japan after landing on the Diaoyu Islands to claim China's sovereignty. But the tension over Japan’s illegal detention of the Chinese fishing boat and its captain escalated the conflict. From then on the dispute between China and Japan is more and more intense.
Actually, there is no doubt that the Diaoyu Islands belong to China. Japan needs to recognize this fact. Japan has neither even admitted nor apologized to China for its past errors and mistakes during WWII. I really feel disappointed for Japan’s immature reaction on handling affairs with the other countries. China has been tolerant enough, and we need to make some strong measures for this outrageous Japan at once.