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Tokyo city officials survey disputed islands

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Arent Tokyo citizens supposed to vote how our money is spent, this is ridiculous. This better come out of Ishihara pocket or someone should lodge a criminal complaint in the police.

5 ( +9 / -4 )

Alex:

Tokyo Gov Shintaro Ishihara has raised 1.45 billion yen in private donations over the last several months to buy the islands from the Japanese family that owns them.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Alex the money raised to buy these islands have come from donations. Nothing illegal about that.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

I think Alex's point is not questioning the donations (raised to by the islands), but that it would be just interesting to check if this survey didn't involve any public money. Always good to keep an eye on how public funds are utilized.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

why don't the contributors buy it on their own, build a condo, and do a time share?

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Build a dock? How about something useful, like a basketball court?

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Well DUH! Of course public funds were wasted, the tax payers of Tokyo pay there wages................just sayin

0 ( +2 / -2 )

“It is an undeniable fact that the islands are Japanese territory, so our task is to see how we can best maintain that,”

Actually, it is very well disputable. Or if not, Dokdo, where the Koreans make the same argument, is Korean land and also not disputable. Question is, why weren't these people arrested?

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Actually, it is very well disputable. Or if not, Dokdo, where the Koreans make the same argument, is Korean land and also not disputable. Question is, why weren't these people arrested?

Is it because they didn't land? Just guessing.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I watched TV news. It is very amazing that these islands (mountains, cliffs, wild animals) are much more beautiful than I thought. These adventure islands can be resort for tours in the future. They may build port, hotel, heliport on the islands. We may have a nice vacation there someday.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Question is, why weren't these people arrested?

Because they did not break the domestic law and they have an official business there. However ordinary people would be arrested without permission.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

SmithinJapan - they were not arrested because they respected the law, and the fact that they were not granted permission to land. October will be more interesting when Ishihara plans to go himself and land regardless of whether he has permission or not. Even today, he said "Let's go there, get arrested and see what happens".

I'd note however that landing on the islands is not a crime as such - its an adminisrative offense. None of the right wingers who landed there last month had to do more than answer police questions. The Chinese were of course arrested for illegal entry into Japan, not for any offense specific to the islands themselves.

What was most interesting about the footage of the islands today is that it really brought home how substantial these islands are - real islands - than the Liancourt Rocks are.

And in the day, both the Koreans, and Ishihara are right. The only way to make sure the territory is secure is just to militarize the crap out of them. Japan's softly softly approach over the last 40 years, while admirable for its maturity in not looking to aggravate or provoke China, in the way the Korean policy does, it will only be viable until PRC parks an aircraft carrier next to the islands, probably within the next 15 years. If Japan wants to sustain its 122 year sovereignty over the islands, I think Ishihara has a point in copying Korea.

0 ( +3 / -4 )

The hundred year war in modern age ? -- this time not for religion..but for a few rocks hundreds of years later perhaps with unconfirmed resources underneath ?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Whats your problem smithinjapan? the island is Japan property. A smith is a strong person. STill youre acting like a tailor. We must defend japan islands. One by one. Next we will take the other from korea. Time by time. Maybe get Port Arthur back.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

Hikozaemon: 1. It's different because Korean did it on their own but Japanese've been trying to do it under protection of the US. 2. No matter what people bla bla bla over this issue, the only truth is these islands are part of Taiwan without doubt, historically and geographically.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

smithinjapanSep. 02, 2012 - 07:44PM JST “It is an undeniable fact that the islands are Japanese territory, so our task is to see how we can best maintain that,” Actually, it is very well disputable.

No it;s not, Unless China wants to take it to the ICJ which it won't.

Or if not, Dokdo, where the Koreans make the same argument, is Korean land and also not disputable. Question >is, why weren't these people arrested?

This article isn't about Takeshima. They weren't arrested because they didnt land.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Ishihara should do a similar commercial such as this one.

Supporters think having the government own the islands will strengthen Japan’s control over them and send a tougher message to China.

I have a GREAT IDEA & A STRONG MESSAGE.

The commercial - Imagine Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara in a canoe paddling !!! Substitute the male driver for a greedy C___e or T____e guy. Also I want a tear to come from Ishihara's eye.

Great Idea

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7OHG7tHrNM

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Exactly,I know he supposedly has public donations for the land, but public officials going there should be checked

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

If Japan wants to sustain its 122 year sovereignty over the islands, I think Ishihara has a point in copying Korea.

Japan ceased to claim sovereignty over the Diaoyu islands and Ryukyu islands after 1945. If you don't believe me, just go and find any map of Japan either produced in Japan or published by other countries between 1945 to 1971 and this is what you will see:

http://retromaps.tumblr.com/image/30107477891

That is Japan consisted of only 4 main islands, without the South Kuril islands, Ryukyu chain of islands and Diaoyu islands from 1945 to 1971. So the claim of sovereignty isn't continuous.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Hikozaemon: " they were not arrested because they respected the law, and the fact that they were not granted permission to land."

I was unaware they were granted permission, and was thinking about the swimmers who were arrested for landing without permission, hence the question. If they were given permission, then there's nothing illegal about it. Thanks for clearing that up.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Compared to Dokdo, these islands are huge, and could be settled properly. Looking at a lot of posts above, some people don't even watch the news.... measuring sea depths etc aroung the islands is very important if you want to start constructing say, a port or heliport. No they did not land they stayed on board the whole time. I think Dokdo is a lost cause and not worth fighting for....but the Senkakus.....Japan should hang in there!!

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

, a strong nationalist, has raised 1.45 billion yen in private donations over the last several months to buy the islands from the Japanese family that owns them. Supporters think having the government own the islands will strengthen Japan’s control over them and send a tougher message to China.

Who is the Japanese family that Tokyo Gov Shintaro Ishihara claimed that owns the island? When did the Japanese family owns the island? From whom did the Japanese family purchased the island? Is there any authenticated documents that can proved the imaginary Japanese family owns the island???

1 ( +2 / -1 )

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