It is expected that the Japanese government will raise the level of provocations related to Dokdo on its homepage claiming its sovereignty, which will act as another negative factor in Korea-Japan relations.
The Japanese government has added a site for research and commentary on Takeshima from the website of “Territory and Sovereignty” operated by the Cabinet Office, an agency affiliated with the Japanese Cabinet Office, under the name of “Territory and Sovereignty Planning and Coordination Office.”
On this site, the Japanese government posted 57 pieces of newly collected data by period and subject along with the claim that “Takeshima”, which is the name of Dokdo that they claim, is “an obvious Japanese territory”.
These data unilaterally support Japan’s arguments, such as an outline of the minutes that allied nations, such as the United States and the United Kingdom, can interpret Dokdo as de facto recognition of Japan’s territory during the drafting of the San Francisco Treaty.
The commentary site also introduces a column of Japanese experts advocating the Japanese government’s claim to sovereignty over Dokdo.
It is known that the Japanese government plans to expand the contents, such as producing English and Korean versions of research and commentary sites on Dokdo in the future.
On the website in question, the Japanese government is claiming sovereignty over Dokdo, Senkaku (Chinese Diaoyudao), and four Kuril islands.In Senkaku, which is currently under the effective control of Japan, China claims sovereignty and four Kuril islands. Is effectively ruled by Russia.
The Japanese government opened a new site that reinforced the claim to sovereignty over Dokdo, only 11 days after Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu repeated the claim of sovereignty over Dokdo in a diplomatic speech at the regular National Assembly opened on the 18th.
Foreign Minister Motegi at the time repeated the existing position of the Japanese government, saying, “Takeshima is a territory unique to Japan under international law, even in light of historical facts, and we will respond calmly and resolutely based on this basic position.”
Japan insists that Dokdo is its territory through a regular diplomatic address to the National Assembly explaining the basic direction of foreign policy for the 8th year since 2014.
(Photo = Yonhap News)