My Opinion

   Hello, everyone! This fiscal year will finish soon. How did you spend this year? I had very wonderful time. We studied so hard, got over the examination of university, and finally entered the University of Tsukuba, which already is a year ago. Time goes by so fast, doesn’t it?

By the way, this is last blog. I talked about an issue of Senkaku Islands from some points, for example, the historic ground of it, insistence of Japan, that of China, and that of other countries. We noticed different things from each point. Then, I will talk about what I think and what I feel through this blogging this week.

   It was not until I began to write blogs about Senkaku Islands that I had been sure Senkaku Islands are Japanese territory without the correct knowledge and information about it. But it was wrong. I think most of Japanese are sure that Chinese are wrong because they are taught false history. However, why do we declare that? And is not there possibility that we, Japanese, are taught false history? ― When I thought so, I decided I wrote blog about Senkaku Islands for we need to check out and know it more and share knowledge about it. What did everyone think through my blogs? Maybe, there are many things which you did not know. If you are Japanese, you probably did not know that Sei-Taikoh gave Senkaku Islands to the people before Japanese found and investigated it at the first time. I think that there are some of men or women who will change one’s idea through knowing this truth. The most important thing is that you judge some issues knowing many things about it.

 Here, I will introduce a movie.

 

 

I’m sorry. You probably do not understand what they say, because they speak in Japanese in this movie. This man who appeared at the beginning is Toru Hashimoto, who is the Mayor of Osaka. His insistent is that “Japan should present the issue of Senkaku Islands to International Court of Justice and it should make clear which countries have the right of its possession, if Japan is sure to win the judgment. However, in other hand, Japanese government negotiates with Chinese government about development of natural resource under the sea of Senkaku Islands together. The important point in this strategy is that, though there is possession of Senkaku Islands in Japan, two countries develop natural resource together.” I think this is the best answer which solves an issue of Senkaku Islands without breaking a relationship between two countries. You maybe think, though Senkau Islands are Japanese territory based on truth, Japan might suffer a loss if Japan conducts this strategy. Certainly, Japan will suffer a loss and China will profit at the moment. However since China and Japan are in a very close relationship as a trading partner, if China develops it is economy it would definitely come back to Japan.

That is all what I talk about a problem of Senkaku Islands. What do you think through my blogs? I hope that my blogs is known by more people, they think about it and relationship between Japan and China will get better. Thank you for reading. Good-by!

Present Situation

Hello! I’m sorry that I did not write a blog last week, because I had a viral gastroenteritis and ran a very high fever. It had pained me that I felt sick and had diarrhea. But I recovered from it by some medicines after a few days. I think that to be health is the best thing for person through this illness. Take good care of yourselves.

Anyway, I will write two blogs this week. First, I will state about the present situations of Senkaku Islands’ problem in this blog. The relationships between Japan and China are growing more and more strained at present. A most famous happening is 2010 Senkaku boat collision incident in September 7, 2010. Mizuki which is a patrol boat patrolling around the area of Senkaku Islands found a dubious ship which is from China and order them who took it to withdraw from Japanese territorial waters. But they ignore it and continued an illegal act and they collided with Yonakuni and Mizuki , patrol boats, and damaged on purpose, when they escaped. Japan Coast Guard placed them under arrest for interference of public duties and took them Ishigaki Island for an investigation. This is a movie which is taken by someone who took Mizuki at the very moment that a dubious ship collided with Japanese patrol boats.

　However, afterwards, Chinese government told the ambassador of Japan to come, protest legal disposal of this happening strongly, and demanded that Japan set a captain of it and clues free immediately, because Senkaku Islands is Chinese territory and they are not illegal. Japanese government accepted this demand, let them except a captain go back to their country and returned Chinese fishing boat to China in September 13, same year. And Japanese government was planning to indict a captain based on a domestic law. But China felt repelled by it and conducted some disposal of retaliation for Japan.

In September 24, it is announced that a captain will be released because Ryo Suzuki, who is a public prosecutor in Naha District Public Prosecutors Office, determined that a captain did not conduct illegal acts premeditatedly, in addition, considering on relationship between Japan and China. The next day, he was done and gone back to China with a plain which Chinese government prepared for him.

About 2600 people joined a demonstration in Shibuya. It is one of the biggest demonstrations that you wouldn’t see a lot in Japan. However, while media of foreign countries announced it largely in own country, Japanese media does not. What does it mean?　－Probably, Japanese government does not want to expand demos around domestic. In other hand, demos which against at Japan arresting a captain of ship expand in China.

In this way, relationship between Japan and China gets worse. What do we do to improve relationship between two countries? －This answer is that more people know collect information, do not tend to become emotional and behave properly.

   The next blog is last one. Please check it out! Thank you for reading, see you!

International Court of Justice

 Hello, everyone! We recently have cold days in Japan. We had snow in this week in Tsukuba city which I live in. But, snow did not accumulate on the ground because the rain fell before it and the ground was wet. Although it is dangerous that snow accumulate－anyone will slip on frozen ground, I’m little sorry because playing with snow is very fun.

However, I have a cold because of this cold weather. Take care not to catch a cold, everyone!

 By the way, I talked about Senkak Islands through the point of third party last week. Did that movie let you see this problem objectively? This week, I will talk about what to do to solve this issue.

For example, if there is discord between two companies, who give judgment for it? －this answer is, you know, a court. It is the same in case between two countries. For international issues, it is International Court of Justice that give judgments.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

International Court of Justice is the international judicial system of the United Nations and it’s headquarters is placed in the Hague of Holland. It’s role is to work out a solution to an international dispute and/or to give advice to a legal problem at court.

　And now, you might think “ If  we’re so determined that Senkaku Island belongs to us, why can’t we just file a suit to the ICJ.” That’s what I thought till now. It sure is one way to solve a problem like this quickly. Actually, if this problem did come up to the court it’s almost certain that Japan is going to win. But it doesn’t go so smoothly. At the ICF, a file cannot be brought up to court unless the both nations agree. This is because every nations have an equal right. China would probably refuse to bring this problem up to the court. China doesn’t have enough evidence that shows the Senkaku Island belongs to them and so they know that they’re going to lose in a trial.  So China would get away from the trial by saying that it’s nothing to mention that the Senkaku Island is their territory.

 Moreover, by filing this suit to the ICJ, there could be a problem to Japan. I’ve been analyzing this matter on this blog and now, considering all the historical facts, I’m pretty sure that the Senkaku Island belong to Japan. But, here’s the problem. If we file a suit to ICJ now, it means that we show the whole world that the Senkaku Island is a dispute area. So unless the joint suit is accepted, Japanese just fall from completely advantageous position to a disadvantage and that’s it. Considering all this, I’d say that filing a suit to ICJ is not a best way to solve this problem. What us Japanese have to do now is to think how to make Chinese government to accept the joint suit and to get ready for the trial when Chinese government actually accepted this.

 Anyway, it seems that this is not a problem that could be solved right away. Thank you for reading.

Other countries' opinions

 Hello, everyone! How are you? I’m very fine. This is because I met my girlfriend after a long time, and date with her. We watched a movie in that date. A movie we watched is ‘Les Miserables’ which is much talked about. It is very touching and nice movie! I recommend you watch it!

 By the way, let’s be going on to the main topic. So far, we have thought about Senkaku Islands in Japanese position and Chinese. But we only do that, we cannot understand the essence of it. This is because there is possibility that each country states as if they are sure that Senkaku Islands are own lands each other.

This is why we are going to think this topic from others points. Maybe, if we see it from third party’s points and think objectively, we will become aware something new.

 So, I looked over something which outsiders write. I think other countries treat these problems with much interest because it is much talked about in Japan and China took a lot of conspicuous actions. However, it is wrong. Most of other countries are “indifferent” to this problem. If you are Japanese, you will possibly be surprised at it. But you will consent to it as I ask about this question.－Do you know falklands conflict between U.K. and Argentina very well? And are interested in it?  Probably, most people answer “No.” This conflict is an appropriate burden. － You have already noticed, have’nt you? You are not interested in territorial issue as far as you are directly in the issue.  

 But, of course, some foreigners are much interested in problem of Senkaku Islands. Please watch this movie.

 This woman who appears this movie is very cute! With big eyes, a high nose and slender body… Oops! No no no, I’m sorry. That was nothing I wanted to say. I meant that this is the very valuable movie that we can tell the opinion of third party, not Chinese, not Japanese. I knew what happened after 1895 when Japanese Government researched about Senkaku Island and I wrote about it in this blog. But I never knew the fact that in 1895 Sei-Taiko（西太后） gave the citizens Senkaku Island just to gather medicinal herb. It’s not so reported on news in Japan. I bet there will be many people that change opinions if they find out about this.

  Moreover, when you see other foreigners’ comments, the opinion that say Senkaku Islands belong to Japan is major. Though, on the other hand, foreign media are kind of strict to Japan. They say that Japanese government is responsible for anti-Japan movements. The problems of the territory, in principle, are not able to be solved. This is why it is a global common that the issue shoud not be regarded as a problem. However, they think we broke the tacit rule because Japan government nationalized Senkaku Island. I think, in China or Japan, people may be quite a few, who believe that whoever think Senkaku Island belongs their country or all what they do are right. I want those people to judge calmly, considering such a idea from another country. I stop talking this week. Thank you for reading.

Chinese education of anti-Japanese

Hello, everyone! I am going to tell you Chinese anti-Japan (Japanese say Hannichi-反日) on this week.

Anti-Japan means that emotion and principle against Japan (for example, politics, a business, people, social, culture, system, history…etc).  The trend of anti-Japan started when Tiananmen Square Incident (an incident that the citizens and students who  was gathering in the Tiananmen Square demanding for democracy got shot indiscriminately by the government ) happened in 1989. 

The Communist Party (the party in China at that time) made Chinese citizens’discontents against them turn to Japan, as Anti-Japan, intentionally. And soon it had an effect on education which established as patriotic education. For example, Chinese history book tell the damage larger than as it is and concealed their stain like Tiananmen Square Incident, the Great Cultural revolution, etc. It was said that 12 million people were killed in the Japanese-Chinese war at the end of the war. But under the education of the anti-Japan trend of president Ko, it swelled to 35 million. Chinese government brainwashed the citizens into anti-Japan by altering the number.

The sentence below is a quote from Chinese history book;

 The Japanese army slaughtered so many people in Ryojun. Japanese army “ gathered Chinese in one place, tied them up, stabbed them with a spear, and cut their body into pieces with their swords.”

As you can see in the quote above, the Chinese exaggerate Japan’s aggressiveness and China’s damage in WW2.

And now that Chinese and Japanese governments are up to the problem of Senkaku Islands, an anti-Japan movement is happening frequently in China. This all started with news reporting that the Japanese government bought the Senkaku Islands and soon spread all over China. Many Japanese supermarkets and motor shops was set on fire and plundered. The root of all these illegal actions of Chinese against Japan is the patriotism that president Ko started in the Tiananmen Square Incident of 1989. This chauvinism accepted Chinese’ illegal movement as “Patriotic Innocence” and allowed Chinese to go on with their movements.

But in the other hand, many Chinese people fall in a strong culture shock when they come to Japan for educations and as business because of the gap between the real Japan that they see, well civilized and technically developed, and the image of Japan that they were taught in school, like “ the place of uncivilized barbarian people.” Especially the upper class, intelligent people learned what they never get to know in their mother country, started to look at their homeland from the outer world and began to doubt what they believed in for all their life, moreover it’s politics, too.

You might wonder why Chinese people don’t realize this when internet and global media is so developed in these days but in China information control system is so strict. The Chinese never doubt what they see in TVs and newspapers.

This made me really wish for the Chinese to get to know Japan in a right way. Thank you for reading!

The true reason of China seeking Senkaku Iｓlands

I think that it is because there are resources around Senkaku Islands that China seeks it.

In the first place, the reason that each country is more curious about Senkaku Islands is that it is discovered there are a lot of oil and gas in the continental shelf of them by geological survey in 1968. In 1971, China insisted the right of possession of Senkaku Islands. In the same year, The United State decided to return Okinawa and Senkaku Islands, and in the next year, actually did. China had dissatisfaction about this, but did not make a protest because China was interested in normalization with Japan. Afterwards, the relationship between Chinese nation and Japanese normalized.

 In 1974, China performed new approach about Senkaku Islands and submitted the postponement of a dispute of it without time limit.

 Because Japan did not want to break relationship with China, found a way of the compromise, too, and was not going to completely reject a Chinese claim.

Afterwards, the relationship is better, both countries signed Japan-China Peace and Friendship Treaty in August 12, 1978.

It was in 1996 that a change occurred in the dispute of the right of possession. Both of countries ratify United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and include Senkaku Islands among Exclusive Economic Zone. In addition, a result of boring in 1999 made thing worse, because it showed that there was enormous natural gas in its continental shelf. Then, China conducted geological survey activity lively, build the sea platform follow the border of Japanese area of the sea, and began to bore. Because the area where there is natural gas continued the territory of Japan, Japanese government was concerned that China continued to bore in the territory of Japan. But, both of countries wanted to keep off that relations turned worse, so they discussed, and agreed to solve all problems without military power. However, China did not show plans concerning boring and mining natural gas. So, Japanese government began to reexamine requests of Japanese corporations for issuing license to mine in the continental shelf of Senkaku Islands. But the Chinese Foreign Ministry complained about it because it is “agitation”.

This is why anti-Japan expanded in China.

 Several years passed and both of countries noticed that they should agree to probe gas-field in Senkaku Islands together. However, although any difficult consultations that are to let the project go ahead were conducted, each other's positions in the territorial problem did not compromise at all. This is because not only pride but also actual profit as resource.

 The more I study about Senkaku Islands through writing blogs, the uglier I think that this dispute of territory is. Both of countries’ Desire for actual profit is very obvious.

But I think that Senkaku Islands is Japanese territory as far as I look at a lot of documents about Senkaku Islands. It is wrong that China is going to deprive them. However, it was not until enormous resources were found around them that Japan insisted they are Japanese territory strongly. If Japan had insisted at the first, there would be such a dispute of territory between China and Japan. Japan is wrong, too. How do you think? Maybe, you have a different idea. Please sent any comments for me!

Chinese insistence

While Japan insists on the possession of Senkaku Islands, China and Taiwan insist on it. China raises three for historic grounds to insist on the right of possession.

 The first, because Uotsuri Island (魚釣島－a part of Senkaku Islands) appeared for the history documents of Mei (The old Chinese name), Senkaku Islands did not belong to the Ryukyu country, and it was a territory of China.

The second, the territory admission by the Japanese Government of 1895 is the illegal occupation that was carried out without waiting for end of the Sin-Japanese War.

The third, it is the illegal occupation by the United States to have been placed under the administration of the United States in the San Francisco Peace Treaty, and The United states gave Japan it by Agreement for the Return of Okinawa.    

In addition, China insists from the viewpoints of international law. It was said that Japan performed “occupancy” of Senkaku Islands as “a lack of ownership place”. But Uotsuri Island has not been a lack of ownership place since Mei, and it had been established that Uotduri Island was Chinese territory.

Potsdam Declaration (On July 26, 1945, based on an agreement in the Potsdam conference, The United States of America, the Republic of China (the old Chinese name) and the British of leaders uttered it for Great Japanese Empire (the old Japanese name)) means the abandonment of every territory which Japan captured of China. Because Uotsuri Island is belong to Taiwan for geographically, it is included the abandoned territory.  

On the other hand, Taiwan insists that Senkaku Islands have been territories of China historically since Mei, like China. There are three say of Taiwan. The first, senkaku Islands rang Taiwan for geologically and geographically. The second, Taiwan performs the fishing industry around area of the sea. And, Taiwan makes use of Uotsuri Island, naturally and daily. The third, Because Senkaku Islands is not “the lack of ownership ground”, “the occupancy” of Japan is not established and is the illegal occupation under the cover of the victory of the war. Therefore, it should be returned in the territory of Taiwan by “Potsdam Declaration” and “Japan-China Peace Treaty” after World War II

About these China and Taiwan insistences, Japanese government says that their points which are raised for historic, geologic and geographic grounds are not the effective grounds for an argument which support that China has the right of possession of Senkaku Islands, neither.

At present, the Chinese claim does not change. However, a change occurs in the attitude of Taiwan. Ba-eikyu (馬英九－the president of Taiwan) submitted “East China Sea peace initiative(東シナ海平和イニシアチブ)” by a ceremony of August 5, 2012.

About the dispute around Senkaku Islands, Taiwan suggested, “there was the right of possession in China, but the dispute shelves it, and we are settled by peaceful means and build mechanism to develop resources jointly.” Japan will not accept this claim.

Oops! I did not state resources which there are under the sea of Senkaku Islands!

It is the next blog that I will state it! See you.