politics

Kishida says China's maritime expansion making world 'worried'

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They're not terrorists; hijack and ransom are inappropriate words

If it is open sea, hijack and ransom are appropriate words to use.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Whether Okinitorishima qualifies for an EEZ is another matter and highly debatable

The UNCLOS which was ratified by Japan says “Rocks which cannot sustain human habitation or economic life of their own shall have no Exclusive Economic Zone or continental shelf.”

To the whole world, Japan's claim of an EEZ of 400,000 square km over a small rock of some 10 square meter is simply ridiculous.

I have no doubt Japan will be the biggest loser in the upcoming ruling by the international court of arbitration on the nature of some reefs in South China Sea since Japan has got the highest number of uninhabited islets in the world and the rulings will be equally applicable to Japan and other parts of the world.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

If you're lumping SK in with China on the basis of the Dokdo/Takeshima dispute, again that is absurd. It suggests that you are judging countries not on their political system or their human rights record, but simply on whether they have disagreements with Japan. As a non-Japanese (and non-Korean and non-Chinese), that looks ridiculous to me. When I look at the Dokdo/Takeshima dispute, I see two developed democratic nations with very much in common having a bilateral territorial dispute but being sensible enough to see that there should be no war between them over a bunch of rocks. On the other hand, the situation surrounding the Senkaku islands is very different indeed - and that is because China is nothing like South Korea.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

YoshitsuneAPR. 27, 2016 - 04:55PM JST

Your lumping of SK in with those other three is as absurd

Actually, SK's claim to Takeshima/Dogdo is the absurdest of all.

US State Department https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Page:Rusk2.jpg

As regards the island of Dokdo, otherwise known as Takeshima or Liancourt Rocks, this normally uninhabited rock formation was according to our information never treated as part of Korea and, since about 1905, has been under the jurisdiction of the Oki Islands Branch Office of Shimane Prefecture of Japan. The island does not appear ever before to have been claimed by Korea.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Who cares what Communist China, North Korea, Russia, and South Korea say?

Your lumping of SK in with those other three is as absurd as the posts on this thread equating Japan's behaviour with China's.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Bob SneiderAPR. 27, 2016 - 04:39AM JST

Funny, literally ALL of Japan's neighbors will say the same thing about Japan.

That makes me convinced that Japan is right.

Who cares what Communist China, North Korea, Russia, and South Korea say?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@Kobe White Bar Owner

Thank you for your concern!

One very cold beer please!

@Logic

Thanks for the link!

Abe is tightening his grip on the press really hard. Hardest in Naha.

@Yoshitsune

I wish Koji Tamaki will replace Fumio soon!

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Funny, literally ALL of Japan's neighbors will say the same thing about Japan.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

@MoonrakerAPR. 26, 2016 - 03:58PM JST

If it were just a quirky or idiosyncratic view of history, as you seem to think, then it would not be such a worry. But if you take the time to investigate the groups I have mentioned several times you will see the emergence of an alarming and uniform drift to nativism and nationalism among the LDP elite. Since Japan has a very unfortunate and well-documented history with regard to policies that emerge from the views these pressure groups hold I think it is well to be afraid of this political atavism. And I for one wish that it were more widely known. If you are criticising me for going easy on China then you might want to check my past comments on its policies.

I'll take your word for it that you also beat on China. However, I do find it worrying that on an article where concerns are expressed about China's quite real expansionism, instead of discussing that, people (including you) choose to discuss perceived fault in the speaker, already a deviation from topic, and even then it is not about any policies he has executed or even advocated (which may or may not have a foundation in his historical views), but his opinion on history (whatever labels you choose to use). I consider this a rather poor prioritization.

There does seem to be a strong correlation between the holding of so called right-wing historical views and being serious about national security in Japan. It seems that being "appropriately" apologetic about Japan's past is less compatible with being "appropriately" concerned and diligent on national security than many in the West seem to hope or even assume it to be.

And if all we can have are these package deals (which may not be as bad as many make it out to be), the correct action IMO is to grade him on the policies that he actually executes (or lacking the power, advocates) and leave disagreement on historic issues as just that. You may wish to keep a closer eye on him because of his historical views, and that's your perogative, but you shouldn't be hindering him or equating his thoughts to other's improper actions while he is basically saying or doing the right thing.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

SenseNotSoCommon

Nearly 80% of Japanese economy is now based on domestic demand. Japan has no longer international dependency in market.

Also in that 20% of our international trade, we have shifted market from China to South East Asia which is also a big market already. Japanese companies that still have dependency on China are all going down now. Things are moving fast.

We are not Germany or Australia. China is not our key market, it's rather a risk that Japan can avoid even when some other country cannot.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

@Hiro

Thanks for bringing this up. Surprised this hasn't made the news here on JT.

@Kobe White Bar Owner

http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201604250027.aspx

2 ( +3 / -1 )

@Kazuaki Shimazaki

If it were just a quirky or idiosyncratic view of history, as you seem to think, then it would not be such a worry. But if you take the time to investigate the groups I have mentioned several times you will see the emergence of an alarming and uniform drift to nativism and nationalism among the LDP elite. Since Japan has a very unfortunate and well-documented history with regard to policies that emerge from the views these pressure groups hold I think it is well to be afraid of this political atavism. And I for one wish that it were more widely known. If you are criticising me for going easy on China then you might want to check my past comments on its policies.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Given the near-symbiotic economic relationship between Japan and China, I can imagine the groans right across Japan Inc.'s boardrooms.

Is Kishida trying to foment an economic crisis?

1 ( +2 / -1 )

@hiro

Japanese Coast Guard just hijacked a small fishing vessel from very Japan-friendly Taiwan and demanded a 1.7 million NTD ransom.

They're not terrorists; hijack and ransom are inappropriate words (which I suspect you are well aware of). They detained the boat and demanded a 'security deposit', which would be normal behaviour for a country protecting its EEZ (though I do not actually support Japan's claim to this particular EEZ as the feature is a partially submerged reef)

The boat was fishing 180 nautical miles away from the formerly submerged outcropping Okinitorishima atoll which Japan have fortified with cement embankments after which Tokyo unilaterally expanded its EEZ from 12 miles to a whooping 200 miles

200 miles isn't "whopping", it's the size of all valid EEZs under UNCLOS. Whether Okinitorishima qualifies for an EEZ is another matter and highly debatable - it seems to me that it should not, for the reason stated above. But the 200-mile limit is completely standard.

If Washington and Sydney will remain silent regarding this Japanese brutality against democratic and peaceful Taiwan then people around the world would understand why Islamic radicals are now thriving

Non sequitur

Furthermore if Japan will continue to treat Taiwan as an enemy then PM Abe and his imperial hordes better be careful with what they wished for.

This hardly amounts to treating Taiwan as an enemy; and there are no imperial hordes.

China for that matter have not extended their EEZ in the SCS to 200 miles, imagined what Washington and Sydney will say if Beijing follows Tokyo's example.

China doesn't have an EEZ in the SCS. If they did, it would be 200 miles from the qualifying territory, or up to the halfway point with another county's qualifying territory. But they do not have any qualifying territory in the first place.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

@Hiro S NobumasaA

Got any link to back up that statement pls.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Smith,

Maybe Kishida ought to worry a little more that his government is doing EXACTLY the same thing

Sorry, but Japan is patently not doing exactly the same thing. China has built a series of artificial islands on disputed reefs in the SCS, with runways capable of handling military aircraft. Japan has not done so.

and in fact has provoked a lot of what China is doing now.

China's designs on the SCS and ECS date back a lot further than Kishida, Abe, the present LDP government, or Ishihara's antics, so could you explain how the present Japanese govt 'provoked' China's actions?

I understand your dislike of Abe and the LDP, and I share it... but I'm baffled at the way you make excuses for the revolting Chinese Communist Party government of the PRC.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

@Moonraker APR. 26, 2016 - 07:58AM JST

Yes, I am concerned about China's expansionist policies but I am equally concerned about Kishida's (and the majority of cabinet politicians) membership of rightist, reactionary and revisionist groups such as the following

You are equally concerned about China's real and active expansionist moves as Kishida's opinion on history?

It is this equivalenting of real dangers to abstract opinions that makes Westerners look extremely biased in Japanese eyes.

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

@gelendestrasse please update your info from the Ainu, Okinawans, Taiwanese, Koreans, Russians and Chinese. They are the minorities and Japan's neighbour. Don't read from NHK only.

@CH3CHO there are no villians nor hero in politics. this ain't hollywood movies.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

koiwaicoffeeAPR. 26, 2016 - 07:38AM JST

All these politicians, on both sides, behave like spoiled kids.

This kind of saying always benefits the villain and hurts the honest man. The saying looks as if it were neutral, but in fact it is always siding with the villain by giving the half of the blame to the honest.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

Maybe Kishida ought to worry a little more that his government is doing EXACTLY the same thing, and in fact has provoked a lot of what China is doing now. Why is it okay, in his eyes, for Japan to do what it is doing and China not? He says "the world is worried" and only hopes he'll get backed up later while his comments further aggravate China and neighbours.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Japan, in the meantime, doesn't even send a picnic to the Senkaku Islands.

No, they just tried to start a war in Asia but nothing to worry about, remember April 2012, this is what the "world" was worriying about at that time ?

TOKYO – Whether it’s a genuine attempt to steer Japan’s foreign policy or a clever ploy to annoy political leaders in both Japan and China, Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara’s plan to buy three disputed islands in the East China Sea is a dangerous game that has the potential to drag both Japan and the U.S. into a shooting war.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

koiwaicoffeeAPR. 26, 2016 - 07:38AM JST

All these politicians, on both sides, behave like spoiled kids.

Just remember that US has treaty obligation to protect the Senkakus from China.

So, if Chinese armed ships enter the territorial water near the Senkakus, the world should be worried about the war between China and the US which may lead to WW3.

Japan has uninterrupted possession of the Senkakus since 1972. Between the end of WW2 and 1972, US had uninterrupted possession of them. Between 1885 and the end of WW2, Japan had uninterrupted possession of them. China claims that they possessed the Senkakus before 1885, but cannot show any proof of their possession. All China show is that they knew the existence of the island. And it is not known if they knew the islands by themselves or if they know them through learning from Japanese or Okinawans.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

What is Kisida hootin' n' hollering about? Japan ought to be "worried" about North Korea's intentions. The recent sanctions won't solve anything. Plus the N Koreans still have a shitload of missiles.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

hmm nope, not world.... unless his world is confined to Japan

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Like the rest of the region isn't worried about Japan's militaristic PM who is hell bent on changing the SDF into a full blown military.

Right you are. The rest of the region is not worried. Vietnam and the Philippines seem to welcome a Japanese military build up.

Yes, I am concerned about China's expansionist policies but I am equally concerned about Kishida's (and the majority of cabinet politicians) membership of rightist, reactionary and revisionist groups ....

It's the American model. Many conservative American politicians are members of the NRA or endorse its policies for example. One of my personal dislikes of Abe and the LDP is that they are too much like Republicans.

Whereas the Abe government's renunciation of peace makes the rest of the world sit back and relax.

Haven't seen any concern with Abe's policies other than China. The US seems quite happy. Haven't seen any worries in the UK media. India seems happy. Russia hasn't said anything of consequence. Maybe they're really worried in Botswana. I'll check this possibility out when I have time.

What incredible hypocrisy.

Just to check, this is not a reference to Chinese and Chinese government policy, right?

Especially the Indonesians who is dead worried about the Chinese or the Japanese establishing a military base in Singapore or Malaysia .....in order to control the Straits of Malacca.

If Indonesia is so worried about Japan, why has its navy been participating in joint exercises with the Japanese?

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

Kishida-sans' stance, rings a bell within my childhood memories.

Red Riding Hood says "Oh Granny, what big ears you've got!" and the wolf replies "All the better to hear you with, my dear!" Red Riding Hood says "Oh Granny, what big teeth you've got!" and the wolf replies "All the better to eat you with, my dear!"

https://simple.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Red_Riding_Hood

0 ( +1 / -1 )

the people of countries in the Asia-Pacific region and the international community worried greatly about the revival of the Japanese military also. besides being worried about China naval buildup..

Especially the Indonesians who is dead worried about the Chinese or the Japanese establishing a military base in Singapore or Malaysia .....in order to control the Straits of Malacca.

The Indonesians have always considered Malaysia and Singapore as a history mistake , countries that should never exist except as part of Indonesia and the Straits of Malacca as waters belonging to Indonesia solely...

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

@CrucialS, "n't" is also crucial

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I would have to say that China is the irresponsible party here as they are actively going out and converting rock outcrops into military airstrips. Japan, in the meantime, doesn't even send a picnic to the Senkaku Islands. Japan isn't expanding the military at the rate China is as a % of GDP. They also aren't bullying the neighbors, kidnapping foreign nationals, or persecuting minorities.

You can complain about revisions of WWII history but that is so 70 years ago. China's aggression is today. They haven't learned anything from history.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Sensato,

Yep, as a foreign minister, he should have knowledge of what other countries think, but him speaking for the "world" shows he doesn't. My country isn't "worried" about China. Many European countries aren't "worried" about China. They see a growing country with all what that brings. Plus, East China Sea issues and s a fairly local problem around here. There are wars going on in other parts of the world which might be what the world "worries" about.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

He has no knowledge of what other countries think, nor has anyone asked him to pretend to be a global spokesperson on China issues.

@Fuben

I agree with everything you wrote, except for the above sentence.

Kishida is Japan's foreign minister, he is supposed to have insight into what other countries are thinking, and he is supposed to speak on China and other global issues.

That said, he certainly has a worrisome and well-documented record involving historic revisionism and re-militarization, as @Moonraker aptly pointed out. And as you are probably aware, this is the same Kishida who is also often in the headlines pushing for Obama's visit to Hiroshima Peace Park, which also neatly fits into his revisionist agenda.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Moonraker,

I wish I could have given you an emoji thumbs up for this one. I think it's very important that the public know that many of these oyaji are deep in the nationalism trench and that whenever their mouths speak words, they do so with an agenda. Kishida should speak for his own country - not for the world. He has no knowledge of what other countries think, nor has anyone asked him to pretend to be a global spokesperson on China issues.

That Japan is scared, I get. The mindset here has always been that of big brother. Now, the roles seem to change. Japan's economic might and political influence lessen by the day.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

The Japanese Coast Guard just hijacked a small fishing vessel from very Japan-friendly Taiwan and demanded a 1.7 million NTD ransom.

The boat was fishing 180 nautical miles away from the formerly submerged outcropping Okinitorishima atoll which Japan have fortified with cement embankments after which Tokyo unilaterally expanded its EEZ from 12 miles to a whooping 200 miles .

If Washington and Sydney will remain silent regarding this Japanese brutality against democratic and peaceful Taiwan then people around the world would understand why Islamic radicals are now thriving .

Furthermore if Japan will continue to treat Taiwan as an enemy then PM Abe and his imperial hordes better be careful with what they wished for.

China for that matter have not extended their EEZ in the SCS to 200 miles, imagined what Washington and Sydney will say if Beijing follows Tokyo's example.

Japan today is a real threat again and Uncle Sam is responsible for this very aggressive Abe behavior.

5 ( +10 / -5 )

Whereas the Abe government's renunciation of peace makes the rest of the world sit back and relax.

What incredible hypocrisy.

6 ( +9 / -3 )

Yes, I am concerned about China's expansionist policies but I am equally concerned about Kishida's (and the majority of cabinet politicians) membership of rightist, reactionary and revisionist groups such as the following: 自民党歴史検討委員会 (Jimintou rekishi kentou iinkai – Liberal Democratic Party Committee for Historical Investigation); 日本会議国会議員懇談会 (Nippon kaigi kokkai giin kondankai – Diet Representative ‘Japan Conference’ Round-Table; 日本の前途と歴史教科書を考える議員の会 (Nippon no zento to rekishi kyokasho wo kangaeru giin no kai – Diet Member Group for Considering Japan’s Future and History Textbooks) and 神道政治連盟国会議員懇談会 (Shintou seiji renmei kokkai giin kondankai ­– Shinto Political Alliance Diet Member’s Roundtable). I wonder if he imagines China doesn't know this kind of thing.

13 ( +14 / -1 )

“‎When you point your finger at someone, anyone, it is often a moment of judgement. We point our fingers when we want to scold someone, point out what they have done wrong. But each time we point, we simultaneously point three fingers back at ourselves.”

― Christopher Pike, Evil Thirst

1 ( +6 / -5 )

Kishida says China's maritime expansion making world 'worried'

That's like China's foreign minister saying "Japan's constitutional changes of their military is making the world worried".

3 ( +3 / -0 )

All these politicians, on both sides, behave like spoiled kids.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

They don't have much of a reason to be worried about Japan. Japan is sailing or flying uninvited into other people's territory pointing 35mm cannons at people like the Chinese Coast Guard does.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Like the rest of the region isn't worried about Japan's militaristic PM who is hell bent on changing the SDF into a full blown military.

3 ( +10 / -7 )

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