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A plan by Japanese maritime authorities to send a research vessel into South Korea's exclusive economic zone in the East Sea looks ever more like a ploy to inflate Japan¡¯s claims to the Dokdo islets there into an international territorial dispute. It follows hard on the heels of a directive by Tokyo¡¯s Education Ministry that Japan¡¯s textbooks must clearly identify Dokdo as Japanese territory. Since the first passenger ferry opened between Ulleung Island and Dokdo in April last year, Japanese patrols have repeatedly strayed into the vicinity and observed the area. In March that year, the Asahi Shimbun sought to make Japanese planes invade the Dokdo airspace and Korea scrambled four fighters to kick them out.
Taking advantage of the fact that an EEZ agreement between the two nations has yet to be finalized, Japan now attempts a surprise incursion. Four times since 1996, Japan has insisted on its claim to Dokdo in EEZ negotiations and proposed that the line between Ulleung and Dokdo should therefore be the line dividing the two zones. South Korea has declined to dignify the proposal with a direct acknowledgement.
Nonetheless, if the Japanese government goes ahead with the dispatch of the research vessel as indicated to the International Hydrographic Organization, the Korean government will find itself in a bind. The foreign media is likely to report the situation as a territorial dispute between Korean and Japan, which will inevitably make the matter into an international issue. Nor can Korea entirely rule out more serious conflict if it seizes the Japanese ship according to law.
¡°The hydrographical survey is a part of activities to draw up a marine chart which are conducted regularly in the waters near Japan,¡± an insider with Japan¡¯s maritime authorities told the Chosun Ilbo by phone. ¡°The two countries have different views on the EEZ, but this survey will be conducted in waters that are considered to be part of Japan¡¯s EEZ.¡± The official said the vessel will enter the waters between April 14 and June 30. Asked whether Korea was notified of the plans, the official answered, ¡°The schedule is already posted on the official homepage of the agency, and we don¡¯t think we need to formally notify to Korea given that the survey is to be conducted in Japan¡¯s EEZ.¡±
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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