Information from twitter posted on Shanti
Phula’s blog – October 3, 2012 –
English translation of a Japanese article: Weekly Asahi – October 12 Issue –
Senkaku
Islands Issue: “China’s Claim Likely to Gain Global Recognition,” Mr. Magosaki
Points Out
The Senkaku Islands issue is far from
over. Japan insists “The Senkaku islands
are effectively controlled by Japan and there is no territorial sovereignty
issue.” However, “It is a big mistake to
think that this claim will gain global recognition,” Mr. Ukeru Magosaki, former
Chief of Intelligence and Analysis Bureau, Foreign Ministry, 69, gives candid
advice.
“After World War II, the territories
including these islands Japan occupied were returned to China in accordance
with the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Declaration.”
On September 27, China’s Foreign Minister Yang
Jiechi addressed the General Debate of U.N. General Assembly to make an appeal
to the international community as follows:
The Cairo Declaration in 1943 stipulates
that the territory Japan stole from the Qing Dynasty should be returned to
China. Japan accepted the Potsdam Proclamation
calling for implementation of the Cairo Declaration. Incorporation of the Senkaku islands into
Japan’s territory in 1895 is likely to be interpreted as “the islands had been stolen
from the Qing Dynasty.” Based on
so-called treaty agreement, I wonder how many Japanese know that it is likely
that China’s claim will gain much recognition.
Japan has studied too little about history.
I think that Prime Minister Noda does not
know the Cairo Declaration or the Potsdam Declaration. If he reads them once, he should be too
ashamed to say “No territorial sovereignty issue exists” in the U.N. General
Assembly.
Most importantly of all, Japan should
recognize that the Senkaku islands are debatable ground. If Japan regards the island as the debatable
ground at first, the next problem is how Japan should continue the effective
control. Then naturally comes up the
theory of “putting the issue on the shelf.”
When China’s Premier Zhou Enlai met with Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka to
talk about the normalization of bilateral diplomatic relations in 1972, the
Premier said “We ignore minor differences for the sake of greater common
interests.” When the Japan-China Peace
and Friendship Treaty was signed in 1978, Vice Premier Deng Xiaoping said, “The
problem which our generation has no wisdom to solve with will be left up to
next generations.” Thus the Senkaku islands
issue has been practically “shelved.”
China has admitted the effective control of the islands by Japan. “Being shelved” has put Japan in an
advantageous position. It is important
to think again this advantage.
*Weekly Asahi October 12 issue
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