politics

Japanese lawmaker on boat near disputed islands

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Before setting off he visited Yasukuni for good luck.

2 ( +7 / -5 )

The islands are Japanese. Get over it...

0 ( +13 / -13 )

The presence of Kenji Yamada, a parliamentarian and member of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s Liberal Democratic Party is another indication of the activism of the current government. I agree with those who argue that the islands in question is legally the responsibility of the Japanese government to maintain and if necessary, defend from hostile aggression.

0 ( +7 / -7 )

Japanese lawmaker on Election Campaign....!

6 ( +9 / -3 )

When ARticle 9 is no more this issue shall also be no more.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

JoeBigsJul. 01, 2013 - 05:58PM JST

When ARticle 9 is no more this issue shall also be no more.

Why?????

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

The season opens today... They should make it a TV show with a series of games around the islets (water bombs, rowing races, any ideas >). Each claiming country would send a team of their nationalist demagogues. The winning team would win the right to get its flag on the rock during the next year.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

This occasion seems apropos of The Lonely Island.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avaSdC0QOUM

1 ( +1 / -0 )

“Most of the people on this mission are fishermen,” he said, but noted that Kenji Yamada, a parliamentarian and member of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s Liberal Democratic Party had also taken part in the mission

So it was a Fishing Mission?

Fishin for what.

Goin fishin aint usually called a mission.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

So I take it that they didn't catch any fish? I mean 4 fishing boats... how much did the fuel cost? That's not very efficient is it? So un-Japanese of them. At least spread some nets or cages and catch something to cover the fuel cost.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

It will trigger more disasters!

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

There's no such thing allowed to cause a war, an act intending to cause a war is never allowed. We have no right to provoke neghbors, as long as it's very us ignoring the promise, pretending to be forgotten it, always being rude. It's just a brainless crowd but any of nation if we're such people who tend to forget something important set before, aiming not to make a clash, also bringing good onto both sides, for 40 years. Think about it ,"patriotism" or "dignity" or "honor", what exactly would these things are available of? While these are not for eat, or any use.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Islands belong to China. Yes, Japanese snatched them while China's empire was weakening and was being exploited by several colonialist powers. Some people do not want to recognize this fact out of heir loyalty to their affinity to Japan. Even Japanese scholars and historians admit they belong to China. Two of them are professor Tadayoshi Murata of Yokohama National University, and Kiyoshi Inoue , Professor of History department, Kyoto University. You can read about them at: http://www.skycitygallery.com/japan/diaohist.html.

Now, Professor Martin Lohmeyer, from Canterbury University in New Zealand, published a very detailed account about the history of these islands. I believe his examination is neutral. I always thought they belonged to Japan until I researched it. The Japanese point is very weak. If interested, feel free to read it at: http://ir.canterbury.ac.nz/bitstream/10092/4085/1/thesis_fulltext.pdf I have no interest in China whatsoever, but you can not distort history as Japan has done.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

I believe that the only way China will stop or slow their bullying is if Japan is firm and put several Japanese citizens in those islands. Having people there flying the Japanese flag will send an unmistakable message to China to stay away. As long as those islands stay uninhibited, the Chinese will continue to bully Japan. If you don't believe me, all you have to do is watch how China took over the island clearly belonging to the Philippines. Please wake up!

5 ( +7 / -2 )

The islands are Japanese. Get over it...

similar to that song title, "I'll Never Get Over You Getting Over Me".

0 ( +1 / -1 )

avigator: thanks for the links, very informative. Sadly no one, thanks to the politicians and media seem to respect the learned Professors or are aware of the true facts. If some of the nationalistic war mongers worldwide took a look at some of the photos of war atrocities, and see if that is what they want for their grandchildren, maybe they wouldn't be in such a hurry to try and cause these conflicts.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Avigator,

I want to second Minello7 in thanking you for bringing these articles to our attention. It seems that the more we look into these matters, including Japan's dispute with Korea about the "Dokdo" island, Japan is on shaky ground both historically and academically. I hope they will honestly study their geographical histories and make informed decisions rather than stand unreasonably on their nationalistic, right-wing agendas.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

make 'im walk the plank, me hearties.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

@avigator

Islands belong to China. Yes, Japanese snatched them while China's empire was weakening and was being exploited by several colonialist powers. ... http://ir.canterbury.ac.nz/bitstream/10092/4085/1/thesis_fulltext.pdf I have no interest in China whatsoever, but you can not distort history as Japan has done.

Contrary to your assertion, that document does not say the islands belonged to the Chinese. It gives evidence that at least both Japan and China used the islands for navigational purposes prior to 1895, hence both Japanese and Chinese names exist for the islands. Therefore, the islands prior to 1895 cannot be claimed by anyone using arguments of established residence.

Furthermore, in the conclusion of that document, you will see the author predicts a peaceful settlement will only be possible through resource sharing.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

It really doesn't matter if the Senkakus are Japanese or not. China is not going to start a shooting war with the United States over them. The sooner Japan builds on them the better China is aggressively attempting to take over the South and East China Seas. The only language an aggressor understands is resistance. Appeasement simply leads to more demands as history has proven over and over again.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

China states that it wants to resolve its maritime territorial disputes peacefully. At the same time China has indicated no readiness to back down or compromise on its claims. If this is the position China has, why start a negotiation? Leave China alone. Vietnam and Philippines are you listening?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

It gives evidence that at least both Japan and China used the islands for navigational purposes prior to 1895

Japan only claims to have discovered the Diaoyu/ Senkaku Islands in 1885 during its fascist expansion period aka State Shinto period. However, major Japanese maps published in Japan centuries before its fascist expansion not only depicted these islands as Chinese territories but even showed the given Chinese names and the Ryukyus (Okinawa), i.e. the island chain between Japan and Diaoyu/ Senkaku Islands was depicted as an independent country. You can find one such map here http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/64/1786年中国往琉球海路图2.jpg

Japan even claimed Taiwan, a Chinese island at the south-west of Diaoyu/ Senkaku Islands with the same principles of Terra nullius during its first invasion of Taiwan in 1874. They were however refuted by the Chinese with official documents and had to shelve their claim over Taiwan temporarily.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

@Guru29

(Okinawa), i.e. the island chain between Japan and Diaoyu/ Senkaku Islands was depicted as an independent country

Ryukyus was a tributary nation of both China and Japan since 1609. It became Japanese in 1872.

You can find one such map here

That is part of a map was drawn by 三国通覧図説 琉球島図 Sangoku tsuran zusetsu by 林子平 Shihei Hayashi in 1785. http://record.museum.kyushu-u.ac.jp/sangokutu/page.html?style=b&part=2&no=3

It shows "Daioyutai (Uotsuri)" island in pink color to indicate it is Chinese. The Ryuukyuu people also knew about the island and used the characters given by the Chinese, although (eventually) pronounced in the Japanese language. However, there were no people living on or farming on the island.

Japan only claims to have discovered the Diaoyu/ Senkaku Islands in 1885

Never heard that Japan claims to have "discovered" the islands. It conflicts with the fact that 三国通覧図説 is Japanese . I only know that Japan claims that the islands were unused, which is true.

By the way about the time that Japanese influence was increasing in the Ryuukyuus, the Qing dynasty exerted pressure on and/or invaded Tibet, Xingjiang, and Mongolia. Maybe if the Qing had ignored Tibet, Xingjiang, and Mongolia and concentrated on the Ryuukyuus instead, people would now be speaking Chinese in Okinawa.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

For your information, China has been around for thousands of years, and much before the word Japan came into existence. And, is it a coincidence that the two seas are named, East China Sea and South China Sea? It is not South Japan Sea and East Japan Sea. Minello and Grandfield, you are very welcome! Please spread the knowledge and educate others.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

avigatorJul. 02, 2013 - 08:59PM JST For your information, China has been around for thousands of years, and much before the word Japan came into >existence.

Japan comes from the Chinese language so that statements sounds contradictory.

And, is it a coincidence that the two seas are named, East China Sea and South China Sea? It is not South Japan >Sea and East Japan Sea. Minello and Grandfield, you are very welcome! Please spread the knowledge and educate >others.

Does Mexico own the Gulf of Mexico? Does India own the Indian Ocean? Does Japan own the Japan Sea?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

It shows "Daioyutai (Uotsuri)" island in pink color to indicate it is Chinese. The Ryuukyuu people also knew about the island and used the characters given by the Chinese, although (eventually) pronounced in the Japanese language.

Not only the Ryukyu people knew the Diaoyu/ Senkaku Islands belong to China and the exact Chinese names of the islands, even the Japanese knew that centuries before they claimed these island based on Terra nullius i.e. "land belonging to no one" during its fascist expansion.

As a matter of fact, Japan did retain at least some Chinese names of the core islands even after it stole these islands along with Taiwan at the end of its invasion of China between 1894-1895.

And as you can see from the 1786 Japanese map that I provided in my previous post, Uotsurijima is actually the exact Japanese translation of the Chinese name of Diaoyutai i.e. fishing island/ platform.

And Kubajima (yellow tail island) is actually the exact Japanese translation of the Chinese name of yellow tail island.

Japan however used Senkaku Islands, the exact Japanese translation of the British name of Pinnacle islands for the island group.

The Japanese always claim that they are the first to discover and name these islands, but doesn't the use of old Chinese and British names of these islands alone a proof that at least the Chinese and British did discover these islands before the Japanese?

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Why send a lawmaker? Send Abe and let this be his fourth arrow? Japan is on the rise again!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@avigator

For your information, China has been around for thousands of years, and much before the word Japan came into existence.

China's long and rich history is a unique treasure and worthy of respect, Let us also remember however that pottery of the people of the Jomon era in Japan has been found dating back over 10,000 years. (http://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/behavior/oldest-pottery)

China has such long history and deep accumulated knowledge of politics, 20 years ago many bystanders expect it would pull Japan securely into its eco-political orbit, slowly but surely. To a large extent, the economic orbit has become a reality. However, due to a desire to score "revenge" points against Japan, Japan is beginning to hedge it economic bets on China, considering the "China-risk" and adopting the "China plus one" strategy (http://news.searchina.ne.jp/disp.cgi?y=2012&d=0925&f=business_0925_122.shtml)

It is like the story of the wind and the sun trying to get the man to take off his coat (http://www.storyarts.org/library/aesops/stories/north.html).

In the case of post war Japan, the US has been the Sun getting Japan to take off its coat. Of course the US has often used its stronger position to push Japan into some deal or other (e.g., Japan should not make planes and satellites and some military products, leaving that area to the US) but the US did not try to score revenge points for the war, at least certainly not 60 years after it ended.

Now China is trying to be the wind to get Japan to take its coat off. It's not going to work.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

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