politics

Japan says nations must behave responsibly in South China Sea

38 Comments
By Nobuhiro Kubo and Masayuki Kitano

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38 Comments
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Japan should avoid serious confrontations with China. The reason is, if you live in Japan, you know well about recent frequent earthquakes and volcano eruptions in the country. Japanese islands entered into volanic period. Volcanoes throughout Japan will be erupting one after another and we will not be able to continue to live in Japanese islands. When it becomes so, we all have to move out of Japan. Where? It is China not America to which we have good relations but the country is too far to go. China may accept us if we have a good relashionship at that time.

-16 ( +6 / -22 )

Japan says nations must behave responsibly in South China Sea

Earnest and peace-seeking dialogue then?

Nakatani proposed what he dubbed the “Shangri-La Dialogue Initiative,” - three measures to bolster maritime and air safety in the region, including round-the-clock monitoring of airspace by members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Co-prosperity: wildly successful the last time.

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

Abe announced he was giving 10 armed patrol boats to the Philippines and training for their crews, in effect helping the Philippines to build a new coastguard. Not so much a dialogue in Shangri-La as a rumble in the jungle.

10 ( +11 / -1 )

Co-prosperity: wildly successful the last time....

Which makes you wonder why China, the victim last time, thinks that it will work this time.

6 ( +9 / -3 )

Isn't Japan spending a fortune on construction on a small sinking island, basically building a steel strcutre on top of it so that something stays above sea level?

Is this another case of the pot calling the kettle black?

-4 ( +7 / -11 )

Klausdorth

It has nothing to do with "domination" because Japan doesn't involve in wars anymore. Until when you guys will keep in ignorance?

4 ( +11 / -7 )

It seems that China's military bases on artificial islands would not back off whatever Nakatani said about it or US did. China is the communist country and nations can't trust at all what its military are doing there. The best action of nations is proper economic sanctions to China, it may back off little.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Japan was barely in a position to lecture anybody before it started scraping its poo off with Article 9. Now its arming the Philippines and talking peace and responsibility?

Something is going to have to happen with the Spratleys and the Paracels. But nobody has come up with anything remotely resembling a solution, and "do nothing" is not a solution that is going to fly.

China following Japan's lead in building an artificial island and claiming an EEZ around it is likely to stick as long as the world fails to call Japan on that garbage.

Double standards can only stretch so far, and then they collapse. But most people here seem to be banking on an infinity of double standards for Japan. Its not going to work.

-4 ( +6 / -10 )

Nobody think of building Island and turning it into military outpost but after China did this everybody become jealous and is barking like bunch of unhappy puppies.

-12 ( +1 / -13 )

It would be interesting if Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam and Brunei comes to an agreement that they will combine their claim and collectively administer the region to counter PRC's actions. This will make it easier for US and Japan provide help to regain peace within the region.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

"China following Japan's lead in building an artificial island and claiming an EEZ around it is likely to stick as long as the world fails to call Japan on that garbage."

Really? Has Japan recently made new claims for areas of the South China Sea or anywhere else for that matter? And is Japan building new land on reefs it never before claimed? So far every country in East and Southeast Asia up to now has basically talked the talk and made historical claims. ONLY China has taken this issue to another level.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

@25psot

Nobody think of building Island and turning it into military outpost

What military outpost? America claims to have seen some artillery vehicles they now claim vanished and they have no pictures.

And plenty of people have thought of constructing artificial islands for all sorts of reasons, but they gave up the idea because of the cost. China is just the player with the most money to burn right now. And may well all just up in smoke.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

“I hope and expect all the countries, including China, to behave as a responsible power,”.......Balanced and reasonable request.

Nakatani proposed what he dubbed the “Shangri-La Dialogue Initiative,” three measures to bolster maritime and air safety in the region, including round-the-clock monitoring of airspace by members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

A sound and responsible proposal...Not a hint of provocation for either the Government of Japan, or Japan Self-Defense Forces. I wonder if the same could be said of the Government of China?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

@paulinusa

I totally don't see the point to any of your questions. Why does Japan have to do similar recently? What they did years ago is still a precedent. Why does it have to be in the South China Sea? Areas with no clear claims remain areas with no clear claims, whether in the middle of the Pacific or in the South China Sea.

And is Japan building new land on reefs it never before claimed?

Are you saying China never claimed those reefs before? You got to be joking!

ONLY China has taken this issue to another level.

Fortune favors the bull.

But just as you grasp at straws to defend Japan's SAME actions, I am sure you would defend anybody but China if they did the same thing.

Fact is that China also patiently sat on their hands for decades over these island claims. I think its pretty cool they waited this long with absolutely zero progress on the issue. Now China takes the initiative to resolve it. I guess if you want the clock turned back you better start advocating solutions, and so far, I don't see anyone offering any. "Quick! Counter China!" is not a solution.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

since Japan has no claims in that area and USA is far on the other side of the ocean they should keep from interfering. USA presence and to some extend Japans involvement are prime reason for china getting stubborn and worried about its own rights in the region. Biggest problem Japan has with its own disputes, with China and Russia is that Japan is acting like the puppet of USA and USA is acting like a bully at everyone doorstep. Any country acting like a bridge for a threatening force is regarded as a part of that force.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

"...Japan's SAME actions,.."

What SAME actions of Japan are you referring to? World War 2? And how is China is "taking the initiative to resolve it"? Maybe you mean "Fortune favors the bully". Slip of the tongue?

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Is it legitimate to create an artificial island and expand the territory?

1 ( +2 / -1 )

good to see dialogues going on and hope to see more, the more they hold talks, the more they will realize they share more commonalities than differences...that all want peace, not war, or any provocation of it.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@gaijintraveler, @paulinausa @Livingmemory

The Japanese island reclamation in question is called Okinotorishima. It is Japan's southernmost point. It gives Japan a 400,000sq km EEZ (Exclusive Ecomonic Zone) literally in the middle of nowhere. Since the 1930s, two of the five "rocks" that were once visible (while barely seen at low tide, the highest is only 16cm above high tide) have had massive concrete and steel embankments built around them to prevent any more erosion (they'd probably be underwater by now without it). The two original rocks are hardly visible anymore and have a total above water footprint (at low tide) of less than 10sq meters (that's hardly the size of a 5 tatami mat room). There is no vegetation. The right-wing Nippon Foundation has a multi-decade plan to artificially grow micro-organisms on the reef in order to make "real" land. Seven construction workers died here last year building a pier which would connect one of them to the artificial platform that has already been built nearby and houses a small staff.

For years China disputed the designation of them being classified as islands since the UN Sea Law states "rocks which cannot sustain human habitation or economic life of their own shall have no exclusive economic zone." Of course, China's dispute can only be seen as ironic now.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

What Nakatani says is reasonable BUT because its coming form Japan, which to date still HASNT dealt with its WWII ghosts in a honest fashion it is just too EASY for China to throw this pie right back at Japan.

If Japan had better dealt with its history it could toss this out & be a leader but its just not possible given Japans poor track record wrt WWII.

It will be IMPOSSIBLE for Japan to take leadership in this way without dealing honestly with its own history.

This is all the more reason why thie August is CRUCIAL for Japan but abe I doubt will or can step up to the plate & do whats right & the whole of Japan & SE Asia will be worse off because of it.

Japan just doesn't have the moral position to lead this issue against what idiotic China is doing unfortunately

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

I hope that this will not lead to a "want to dominate" in the future.

And it's ok by you too see China try now?

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

China must be stopped, and they must be stopped now. And it is the responsibility of all countries in the area to come together and act unilaterally. That includes Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Singapore, Taiwan, Phillipines, Indonesia and others.

The book "Samurai Thinking and Tactics for Dummies" by the author Shinsei Horikawa should be distributed to all these countries to provide a single focused approach. All trade with China should be ceased immediately to start weakening the Chinese economy. All immigration from China should be also stopped immediately.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

It's all comes to one thing - China outsmart US and Japan in South China Sea. It will likely stay this way as this process can't be reversed....

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

@Schopenhauer lol do you seriously believe what you suggest there? You're forgetting that honor is a deeply rooted trait in Japan, rightfully. I think most Japanese, even most people would rather jump into a volcano than have to move to China and live under that suppressive regime, me included.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

“I hope and expect all the countries, including China, to behave as a responsible power,”

I just hope Nakatani realizes that Japan is included in 'all the countries' and is not somehow above it. They have certainly engaged in their own provocations in the past, which has helped lead to current tensions, so they must as well be responsible.

-2 ( +5 / -7 )

China has repeated over and over that all commercial vessels will allow sailing through and will be allowed to dock there if it needs to. China also may allow US warships docked there, if it needs to. President Obama is very African American way to deal with any issue. He walks a fine line of illegal or international norm and barely acceptable argument. He is concerned whether he is respected is more crucial than real solution to the problems successfully.

Vietnam and Philippines have been carrying out such reclamation work for years in South China Sea. Why U.S Defense Secretary Ash Carter and U.S media has never criticized the reclamation work of the Philippines and Vietnam, size of reclamations is irrelevant allegation yet a fair and impartial is pertinent to the matter. Now, who is trying to destabilize South China Sea and Asian Continent? It is not China. China is the country that stabilizes Asian Continent.

I don't think that there is any dispute in South China Sea. In 1952, Japan renounced all right, title and claim to the Spratly and Paracel Islands to the Republic of China (Taiwan), by way of Article 2 of the bilateral Japan–Taiwan Treaty of Taipei. This treaty followed — and referenced — the territorial renunciations of the Islands by Japan under the 1951 San Francisco Peace Treaty, which had not identified the beneficiary at the time — a treaty that was ratified by both the Philippine and (South) Vietnamese governments.

It seems to me that President Obama has recklessly resorted to any means to create confusion in the vast majority of the world’s problems to achieve his purpose of dominating the world, and these problems would eventually return to haunt U.S. If the United States tries to create the war or a conflict with China, U.S may not be a winner and China may not be necessarily a loser. U.S, like Taiwan, underestimates Chinese’s will and its ability. If Americans have ever thought that the United States might not have won the war against Japan during World War II, if U.S without Chinese tied down Japanese military and then dropped atomic bomb after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. Hawaii, California could have been a part of Japan Empire or independent countries under the domination of Japan.

Again, if the United States has a strong interest in preservation of peace and security in the South China Sea, then, the United States should not involve in the conflicts. I have never seen any country which has any good ending as long as U.S and EU involvement in the conflicts. I am a Taiwanese original and I am not taking sides. All my comments are based on the facts through extensive studies and research. President Obama has attempted to instigate all sorts of scenarios that would potentially develop into pretexts for confrontation and conflict with China for purpose of China’s containment.

Jennie PC Chiang江佩珍 05/31/15 美國

-10 ( +2 / -12 )

The young generation is enjoying peace and prosperity like never before. They'll never see war, period.

China has had a free market since the mid 70's, and this region will the economic center of the entire planet.

NOBODY there in their right mind would dream of starting a conflict, there's too much to lose.

All this chest pounding you hear from politicians in your countries is entirely used to get your support, that's all it is.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

China should get a real Life, Come back to reality, the nine dash claim it is claiming is nothing other then some sailor or captain marking it maps to watch out for obstructions, an Obstruction which can cause the sinking of its ships. this is no claim to ownership, As a holder of a Captain License I also mark maps for rocks and obstructions of all kinds even marking a place where a ship or aircraft has gone into the sea so you do not catch it if your dragging a net,

So China's claim holds no merits to any claim of ownership. China is doing nothing other then stealing land from other countries.

China is also trying to take from Japan an Island which was cleared to Japan after WWII by the international Community in the Peace process. China knows this and still is trying to take all, Why because there is a rich source of Oil and Gas Reserves under all this sea and All the Islands, this is not about only reclaiming it is about a country controlling all the Gas and Oil in the area, Just like Russia has done with selling all the Gas to European countries making the main resources the most valued income for Russia, this is Just what China wants to do, every country in the area has a right to collect and sell this resource.

Being that the US holds all the surrounding countries in defense treaties, the US should give a 72 hour notice to China to remove all ships and equipment from the area and if not the US has the Legal right to enter and take over by any means necessary to remove all the people and ships China has there, if this means aircraft going in and Blowing up ships dredging and military equipment then, So Be It, China has been warned,

There cannot be any civil or Peaceful resolution to this issue, the time to step in and remove a country stepping on little People are over and it is time for military action!

We all as Americans and all as Philippines do expect this from the United States of America because all the surrounding countries deserve the peace and tranquility of fishing the Oceans without any threat of some Bully, using water cannons, or ramming, or causing destruction on the high seas where there are usually no witnesses to boats disappearing or their crew gone from being killed by some bully, a bully making claims to ownership when it does not have any legal rights (by international law) to the claim, especially when a country has passed its own 200 mile Limit to its real borders.

Get China out of the West Philippines sea!

One more point any media calling this the China Sea is defaming the Other countries, in this issue it is the West Philippines sea, if the Media continues to calling this the China sea, they can each and will be held Liable ,

Each paper, each Media for money damages to the Filed Plaintiff. this is clear as the china sea only exist in the minds of the Chinese an only goes out to the 200 mile limit set by the international community.

Any and all of these cases can be filed where the N has its main office which is the Federal court in Washington DC. If China does not understand that then when china has some 10 billion dollar judgement against China for ecological damage and destruction of Fish and all wild

Life, in the United States this is a very serious claim, and stopping the Owners like the Philippines Fisherman from fishing their own waters is another very expensive claim which also can be filed in that court too!

3 ( +5 / -2 )

This could be the result of Philippine taken up some islands and the Diaoyu island incident. So many islands there, let all have it.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@Supey11 Are you really saying Okinotorishima and what China is doing in the South China Sea is comparable? Really? Okinotorishima is in undisputed waters and was an undisputed part of Ogasawara for nearly 60 years before the Japanese government, in 1987, built a retaining wall around parts of the island to stop the erosion. The Japanese had a lighthouse, and started a research station, on Okinotorishima in 1939. This seems to indicate that the Japanese weren't reclaiming land to build an island, they poured their concrete to stop one, one with a Japanese lighthouse and research station, from disappearing. Of course they were more concerned about the EEZ than the lighthouse BUT that doesn't change the fact that Okinotorishima is very different from what the Chinese are doing in the South China Sea. The Chinese are playing around I n disputed territory, territory claimed by multiple countries. They are also actually BUILDING islands. Another big problem is the airstrips which can support fighter jets and buildings that can house military that they are putting on these new peices of land. Very differently on what the Japenese did on Okinotorishima ... Just saying...

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

@JBird: I believe that in my comment I never actually "compared" the two situations. I was simply pointing out the verifiable facts of the Okinotorishima situation that several people were referring to in previous comments without either name or understanding.

If there was ever a point that I did add my perspective in what I was saying, it would have been in the final sentence, which only pointed out the hypocrisy of China to dispute Japan's EEZ claim while engaging in an even more brazen example of land reclamation (regardless of the politics of actual "ownership").

1 ( +1 / -0 )

The Spratlys are claimed by half a dozen countries including the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam and China.

Among these claiming nations, Philippines cost guard has shot and killed one elderly Taiwanese fisherman. It was not the single shot. According to the voyage data recorder, the shooting occurred at 19°59'47.27"N and 122°55'41.37"E, which is outside the Philippines' territorial waters, but within the shared EEZ.

After fisherman was killed, On May 12 of 2013, Taiwan sent additional three Coast Guard cutters and one Navy warship carrying a S70-C helicopter to safeguard the Taiwanese fishing boats within its southern EEZ waters, and ignoring the Filipino EEZ claim. Philippines coast guard disappeared like Iragi servicemen ran away from advancing IS.

If we leave any unlawful situation unattended, order will soon turn to disorder, and peace and stability will collapse,

Japan should lecture Philippines which was heavy handed . Unlike Philippines, Brunei, PRC, Taiwan, Malaysia and Japan has refrained for using bullets. If one nation has mishandled with bullets, there will be rapid fire action in the south china sea.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

@Schopenhauer

Japan should avoid serious confrontations with China. ... we all have to move out of Japan. Where? It is China not America.

I suppose leasing Manchuria would be out of the question?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

By building artificial islands and placing military equipment thereon (5/27/2015), China hopes to enlarge its claim and forcibly take the traditional territorial waters of its South China Sea neighbors. The neighbors affected are Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines and Taiwan. We all know that China has claimed all of Taiwan, but the Taiwanese are having no part of that. However, under the newly aggressive water grab, China is taking nearly all of the Territorial and exclusive economic zones of Brunei, Malaysia and the Philippines. http://www.theamconscience.com/understanding-china-and-the-south-china-sea<>

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Joseph12345May. 31, 2015 - China should get a real Life, Come back to reality, the nine dash claim it is claiming is nothing other then some sailor or captain marking it maps to watch out for obstructions...

Sorry, it's not something sailor's story! According to 1952 Sino-Japanese Peace Treaty( which was supported by the US), all of Paracel islands and Spratly islands returned to ROC to be part of Taiwan from Japan after WWII. However, both of Japan and the US need China to balance Russia so they betrayed Taiwan in 70's to recognize China(PRC). Suppose the US and Japan respect the above mentioned Treaty, all of Paracel islands and Spratly islands belong to Taiwan, on the contrary, suppose they abide by their words with China.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@Herbery Franklin

Got to love the slant of your post. Its so representative of all the taking of sides going on here!

We all know that China has claimed all of Taiwan, but the Taiwanese are having no part of that.

And we all know that Taiwan has claimed all of China, right? Right?

The neighbors affected are Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines and Taiwan.

How does Taiwan have traditional territory in the South China Sea, but China doesn't? Having a look at a map might be in order!

China is taking nearly all of the Territorial and exclusive economic zones of Brunei, Malaysia and the Philippines.

I notice you left out Vietnam, whose claims are nearly as ambitious as China's!

So long as everyone insists on just being anti-China and refusing to actually see a complete overview of the situation, I think an eventual war is pretty much guaranteed.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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