Press Conference by Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda on Takeshima (August 24, 2012)
(Reference: Fact Sheet: Position of Japan on Takeshima)
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Since the start of this month, a series of incidents have taken place in the surrounding waters of Japan which concern the sovereignty of the nation. This is extremely regrettable. Japan cannot overlook such conducts.
- The greatest responsibility of the nation is to protect peace and to ensure the safety of the people. It is to protect the sovereignty of Japan and to protect the territories and territorial waters of our homeland. As Prime Minister in charge of all governmental affairs, I am committed to fulfilling this crucial duty, both calmly and reassuringly with a resolute attitude, and with unwavering resolve.
- Today, I would like to explain to the people directly my views on the fundamental policy which Japan should carry forward, while reflecting on the historical background and the measures Japan has taken to date. At the same time, I would like to reassure the people of Japan that the Government will continue to deal calmly with this range of incidents.
- Let me first affirm that Japan is one of the world's preeminent maritime nations. Although Japan is the 61st largest country in the world by land area, if we take our territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) into account, Japan becomes the world's sixth largest country by virtue of the size of ocean that Japan manages. If ocean depth is also included in the calculation, Japan becomes the world's fourth largest country by "volume." What makes Japan such an expansive maritime nation is our over 6,800 remote islands, including Takeshima and the Senkaku Islands.
- "To ensure the sovereignty over the remote islands which are the inherent territory of Japan" is none other than "to safeguard our maritime nation and Japan's massive frontier."
- It is incumbent on us now to carefully examine the importance that such remote islands have for Japan, as well as to make "all Japan" efforts which cut across the barriers of ruling and opposition parties in order to assert what Japan ought to assert and to steadily pursue efforts which Japan ought to pursue.
- Since the change of government, administrations led by the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) have taken a number of concrete actions based on the initiatives taken by previous administrations or which go beyond previous initiatives. Broadly speaking, three such actions can be identified.
- The first is the stable protection and management of remote islands. Remote islands include uninhabited islands which have not necessarily been accurately surveyed or been given names. It is important that appropriate administrative measures and physical protection measures are steadily implemented. In May of last year and in March of this year, the Government gave names to 49 remote islands which are essential for marking the EEZ of Japan. It was at this time that names were given to four small islands of the Senkaku Islands.
- The second is the bolstering of patrol arrangements in nearby waters. When I visited Okinawa in May, I observed a patrol vessel of the Japan Coast Guard (JCG). I witnessed the pride of the JCG officers who risk their lives to protect the seas of Japan, including the Senkaku Islands.
- An environment in which these "guardians of the sea" can execute their work smoothly must be maintained consistently. Equipment and personnel must continue to be increased and reinforced. In addition, there are legal challenges. Bills to revise laws have already passed the House of Representatives in order to enable JCG to respond swiftly for distant remote islands. I ask everyone for their cooperation in order to pass the bills by the end of the remaining Diet session.
- I believe it is also important that the people of Japan see the actual circumstances in which JCG officers patrol our territories and territorial waters. In this light, the JCG's video recording of the recent incident involving the illegal landing of foreign nationals on the Senkaku Islands shall be disclosed, within the scope that this does not hinder future patrol activities and other activities in territorial waters.
- The third concerns our efforts to communicate the legitimacy of Japan's position (on our territories and territorial waters) to the outside world. This April, a United Nations (UN) agency (the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf) recognized the extension of the continental shelf requested by Japan. Increasing the international community's awareness of this by way of an international organization is an extremely effective measure to underscore the legitimacy of Japan's assertions. Furthermore, the Japanese Government proposed to the Government of the Republic of Korea (ROK) to institute proceedings before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the dispute over the sovereignty of Takeshima. This is one of the activities to obtain the understanding and support of the international community. Moving forward, I personally will make efforts to communicate the legitimacy of Japan's positions in and outside of Japan in order to safeguard the territories and territorial waters of Japan, not limited to Takeshima.
- On August 10, ROK President Lee Myung-bak set foot on Takeshima. I expressed my regret at this incident at a press conference on the day when the relevant draft laws of the comprehensive reform were made into laws, and afterwards we lodged a protest through diplomatic channels.
- There is no doubt about the fact that Takeshima is Japan's territory in light of the historical facts and based upon international law. During the early period of the Edo era, Takeshima was being utilized under the license from the Shogunate. Japan established the sovereignty by the mid 17th century at the latest. Later, we incorporated Takeshima into Shimane Prefecture by a Cabinet decision in 1905, reaffirming Japan's intention to claim the sovereignty.
- The ROK side insists that it had established its effective control over Takeshima before Japan, but the wording of the documents the ROK refers to is ambiguous, and the ROK has no unequivocal proof that supports its argument.
- After World War II, in the process of drafting the San Francisco Peace Treaty, the ROK requested that Japan renounce Takeshima, but the U.S. rejected the request. Notwithstanding these circumstances, after the War, the ROK unilaterally installed illegal "Syngman Rhee Line", and began illegally occupying Takeshima by force.
- The issue of Takeshima should not be discussed in the context of "understanding of history"; it is the problem of whether ROK's act of unilateral occupation is consistent with "law and justice of the international community."
- The ROK side may have its own case on Takeshima. By making its case on what one country believes as "justice" unilaterally, however, does not guarantee constructive discussions between two countries with different opinions.
- The best way to deal with an international dispute is, in light of "law and justice" of the international community, to argue before the ICJ and bring it to a conclusion. The Government of Japan will continue to strenuously make the case to the ROK that settling this dispute based on international law stands to reason.
- Also, in accordance with the intended meaning of the resolution presented by the Diet today, the Government of Japan intends to strengthen activities to send out information on the position of Japan on Takeshima abroad and review how to enhance the whole of government readiness regarding the Takeshima sovereignty issue.
- Concerning the Senkaku Islands, the historical background and situation surrounding these islands differ from Takeshima, and so I cannot talk about them as if they were the same. However, there is no doubt that these islands are clearly an inherent territory of Japan. The big difference with the Senkaku Islands, is that there exists no issue of territorial sovereignty to be resolved (over the Senkaku Islands).
- After confirming that the Qing Dynasty of China was not in control of the islands, the Meiji Government of Japan incorporated the Senkaku Islands into Japan's territory in 1895. China started claiming territorial sovereignty over the islands no earlier than the 1970s, when it was suggested that there was the possibility of there being oil reserves in the East China Sea.
- There is no doubt that in light of historical facts and based upon international law, the Senkaku Islands are clearly an inherent territory of Japan. Indeed, the Senkaku Islands are under the valid control of Japan. In order to prevent the repetition of illegal landings on the islands, such as the landing that recently occurred, the Government will be exerting every effort to strengthen information gathering and be fully prepared through surveillance and guarding activities in the sea around the islands.
- I would also like to take this opportunity to remark on the Northern Territories, which are also an inherent territory of Japan. The issue of the Northern Territories is an issue that concerns all Japanese people. It is not just a problem that concerns the sovereignty of Japan. It is also a humanitarian issue for the former residents of the territories, who are now already advancing in their years. Japan will move negotiations with Russia on this issue forward in a calm environment, based on the principles of law and justice.
- It is my hope that the basic facts of these issues will be shared widely among the public.
- In order to protect the national interests of Japan, I will assert what must be asserted, and steadily pursue efforts which Japan ought to pursue. Then again, an unnecessarily forceful and hard-line domestic debate and the unnecessary escalation of the situation will not benefit any country. More than anything, it is crucial that we take an approach to these issues based on the principles of law and justice and aim for peaceful and diplomatic resolutions. I believe that the spread of rule-based order in accordance with international law is an indispensable element of stability and prosperity not only for Japan, as a maritime nation, but also for the entire Asia-Pacific region.
- As such, it is imperative that those involved in these issues take a comprehensive point of view on them, no matter the situation, and absolutely never lose their composure. To the wise citizens of our neighbor and important partner, the Republic of Korea, with whom we share values, I say that even if we differ in our assertions, we must both respond in a calm manner.
- Words and actions that lack even basic diplomatic protocol only serve to hurt both of us, and they do not produce any constructive outcomes. We strongly hope for deep consideration and careful action from the ROK side. No matter the issue, Japan will seek resolutions based on the principles of law and justice. We will exert efforts for a calm response, and place value on diplomatic decency. I once again express our resolve toward making efforts together with our neighboring countries for the future of this region. With this, I end my opening statement.