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Korea¡¯s plan to survey currents in troubled waters near Dokdo threatens renewed conflict between Korea and Japan, but the atmosphere is very different to tensions in April, when Japan attempted to conduct hydrographical survey in the sensitive area of the East Sea.
Outwardly, both Seoul and Tokyo are digging in their heels, with Korea saying it cannot change the schedule and Japan threatening to send patrol boats if the survey goes ahead. But there are signs that both are trying to avoid the worst-case scenario.
First of all, the government is not publicizing the detailed schedule of the survey and it is not briefing reporters. In April, by contrast, government officials were only too keen to come forward threatening to seize any Japanese vessels and declaring Korea¡¯s willingness to use force.
Officials with the ministries of foreign affairs and maritime affairs and fisheries and the Korea Coast Guard are declining to comment on the record this time, saying privately that a survey of currents in the Dokdo area is Korea¡¯s sovereign right but there is no need to talk up any unnecessary conflict with Japan.
Japan seems to be saying it will send a patrol boat if a Korean vessel enters what Tokyo says is its exclusive economic zone, but will only order it to turn back without any attempt to seize it. Chances of an actual clash are therefore low. Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe said Monday, ¡°We urge Korea again to make a wise decision to refrain¡± from conducting the survey. Some Japanese media report that Tokyo will instead dispatch its own survey vessels to the Dokdo vicinity, but there have been no discernible moves from Tokyo yet.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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