Even now, there are various problems between Japan and South Korea, but among them, there is a big problem that has been fought for many years.
It is Takeshima * [Korean name:Dokdo] It is a territorial dispute over. * Here, it is written as Takeshima.
This problem has not been solved at all for more than 60 years from the 1950s after World War II to the present. In the news on November 16, 2021, it was reported that the Korean police chief had landed on Takeshima, and Japan protested.
The Takeshima issue is still difficult even after more than 60 years, because there is a large gap between the perceptions of Japan and South Korea, and there is almost no mediation between other countries.
This time, I would like to write about the Takeshima issue in a simple and easy-to-understand manner.
What is the Takeshima problem?
The territorial dispute between Japan and South Korea is Takeshima Is called.
1952 San Francisco Peace Treaty with Japan after the Pacific War Japan's sovereignty has been restored, and Takeshima is internationally recognized as Japan's territory.
South Korea opposed it, claiming its own territorial waters Syngman Rhee Line Was established, and Takeshima became his own territory and was effectively controlled by force.
After that, the Japan-Korea Fisheries Agreement was signed in the Japan-Korea Basic Treaty, and diplomatic relations were restored, but the Korean side has continued to effectively control by force until now. Takeshima has a lot of fishery resources, but as South Korea continues to have effective control, the Japanese side is unable to fish around Takeshima.
The Japanese side has also consulted with the South Korean side about protests and proceedings to the International Court of Justice through the mediation of a third party, but the Korean side has closed the settlement at the court, saying that there is no territorial dispute.
What kind of island is Takeshima (Dokdo)? ??
Takeshima is a small island located in the southwestern part of the Sea of Japan, at latitude 37 degrees north and longitude 131 degrees east, and is made up of two islands and reefs. Its size is equivalent to five Tokyo Domes, about 157 km from Oki, and about 87 km from Ulleungdo on the Korean side.
The Japanese name is [ Takeshima ], In South Korea and North Korea, [ Dokdo ] From third countries such as the United States [ Liancourt Rocks ] Is called.
Takeshima itself is small and has no resources.
However, the surrounding ocean is Tsushima Current and Liman Current . It is a suitable place for fishing grounds because it is located at the intersection of. No undersea stocks have been found, so fishing rights are the only current economic value.
Japan and South Korea's claims over Takeshima
I knew about Japan itself and Takeshima from literature and maps.
Before the end of the Edo period, Matsushima It is said that it was officially approved by the Edo Shogunate and was engaged in fishing and was also under development. But at this point, it didn't belong to any territory, so January 1905 It was decided by the Cabinet as an island under the jurisdiction of Shimane Prefecture.
Since the transfer of Takeshima to Shimane Prefecture, a series of administrative exercises have been carried out calmly and continuously, and no protests have been received from any country.
The Korean side claims that 1454 Seong Jitsuroku Geography And 1531 Shinmasu Tokichi Katsura Usando that appears in the literature such as Is Takeshima. And 1696 An Yong-bok Is said to have expelled the Japanese from Takeshima.
Then 1900 According to the edict of the Korean Empire, Takeshima became Korean territory under the name of Ishijima.
It is believed that there is no clear basis for Usando and Ishijima, which South Korea claims, to be Takeshima in Japan, and it seems that they have not been effectively controlled after the Edict of the Korean Empire. ..
By the way, the person named An Yong-bok is also recorded on the Japanese side. Japanese records indicate that this person was taken by a Japanese official during poaching.
Details of the Takeshima issue and the present
The Takeshima issue is 1945 (Showa 20) This is a problem that has arisen since then, but as the times progress, the problem and situation will differ greatly.
After World War II, San Francisco Peace Treaty I waive all rights, titles, and claims to Korea, including Jeju Island, Port Hamilton, and Ulleungdo ] Was stipulated. In deciding this article, South Korea requested that Takeshima be included in the territory that Japan abandoned, but since Takeshima is Japanese territory, the United States has rejected it.
From this, it is clear that Takeshima is not included in the range that Japan abandons.
Also, since Takeshima is not intentionally written in the text, it can be seen that Takeshima was created with the recognition that it belongs to Japan.
Takeshima issue in the second half of the Allied occupation
1905 (Meiji 38) By the Cabinet decision of Japan, Takeshima became Japanese territory by incorporating it into the territory.
During the Pacific War, Japan was still governing as Japanese territory, but when it lost the war, it was occupied by the Allies. Among them, the scope of Japan's sovereignty was set by GHQ, and the voyage for fishing activities was also set.
Among them is Douglas MacArthur , General Commander of GHQ. MacArthur Line with the name There is a border called. In Japanese [ Memorandum of Understanding on Areas Approved for Japanese Fishing and Whaling This line, called】, was set as a standard for determining the scope of activity of Japanese fishing vessels under the rule.
To the last, the line standard did not allow fishing near Takeshima.
The GHQ does not have the right to decide the disposition of the territory, and the legal determination of the territory will be decided by the peace treaty.
After the San Francisco Peace Treaty
The San Francisco Peace Treaty was signed in 1952, and with the restoration of Japan's sovereignty, the scope of sovereignty was set. Takeshima was recognized as a Japanese territory by this treaty, and the former MacArthur line was abolished with the entry into force of the treaty.
However, it was South Korea that opposed this decision, and before the peace treaty was signed, it was based on the MacArthur line and was unique to South Korea [ Syngman Rhee Line . ] Was established and Takeshima was made into its own water area.
Then, the Dokdo Volunteer Garrison on the Korean side was stationed in Takeshima to monitor and capture vessels operating near Takeshima. The garrison was dissolved after 1956, but it continues to be effectively controlled by armed police forces.
Normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and South Korea
Aside from the Takeshima issue, the Japan-Korea Basic Treaty and the Japan-Korea Fisheries Agreement signed in 1965 decided to restore diplomatic relations and abolish the Syngman Rhee Line, but the Takeshima issue remains unsolved. As it is, the effective control of the Korean side will continue.
1996 The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea will be finalized by both Japan and South Korea, and a provisional water area will be set based on the midline between the two countries. Under this agreement, Japanese and Korean fishing vessels were scheduled to use jointly in the water area, but in reality, the Korean fishing vessels have monopolized the fishing industry, and Japanese fishing vessels are still unavailable.
After that, the Japanese side 2005 If the Shimane Prefectural Assembly passes a treaty with February 22 as Takeshima Day, Japan-South Korea relations will worsen.
Further 2012 In, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak visited Takeshima as the incumbent president. In 2018, the Prime Minister of South Korea visited Takeshima for the first time.
As a result, Japan-South Korea relations will worsen and tensions will continue.
Current situation of the Takeshima issue and views of both countries
The views of both countries on the Takeshima issue are that Japan has a territorial issue with South Korea, and South Korea is a unique territory in the first place, so there is no territorial issue. There was something similar in the Northern Territories. .. ..
From Japan's point of view,
- Takeshima is a territory peculiar to Japan in terms of historical facts and international law
- Korea's occupation of Takeshima is illegal occupation that is carried out without grounds under international law
- The Takeshima issue will be resolved calmly and peacefully in accordance with international law
The Korean side is ...
- I will not try because there is no territorial issue with Japan
- Issued an edict to transfer Takeshima to Korean territory as "Ishijima"
- Ulleungdo and Takeshima are close, so Takeshima is Korean territory
- Takeshima is listed as his territory in Korean official literature
- An Yong-bok protests against Japan that Takeshima is Korean territory. Through negotiations between Japan and Korea, Takeshima became Korean territory, and Japan banned Japanese from traveling to Takeshima.
Japan is also 1952 Since then, he has issued a protest statement against South Korea that it is illegally occupied, and resolved the judiciary in the International Court of Justice 1954 and 1962, 2012 . However, due to the refusal of the Korean side, it has not been tried in the International Court of Justice.
This trial is structured so that the trial of the dispute will only begin if the parties have agreed to seek resolution in the court. Therefore, no matter how much Japan filed a unilateral proceeding, the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice will not be established unless South Korea voluntarily responds.
By the way, the American side consistently considers Takeshima to be Japanese territory, but since it has an alliance with South Korea, it does not show an attitude of actively mediating the Takeshima issue. On the other hand, North Korea is supporting South Korea's sovereignty.
South Korea has not responded to international trials and is still in effective control of this Takeshima issue, and the situation has not changed and it is difficult to find a solution.
However, there are still ways left in Japan.
That is, Japan can file a proceeding alone with the International Court of Justice [ single proceeding 】is.
Of course, the Korean side also has the right to veto, but if you refuse, it is a rule that you must announce the reason to the whole world. This is also a good opportunity for the world to know about the Takeshima issue, and South Korea must publicize the reasons for refusal that the whole world is satisfied with.
If Japan decides to file a single proceeding, I think that Japan, which has solid grounds and confidence, will have an advantage under international law.