The following is from Masao Shimojo, a visiting professor at Tokai University and Shimane Prefectural University, which appeared in the Sankei Shimbun on February 4 under the title "Tentative Waters" created by weak-kneed diplomacy.
It is a must-read for the Japanese people and people around the world.
On January 17, Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC) announced that it would invest in an exploration project launched by INPEX, Japan's largest oil and natural gas development company, in the offshore areas Shimane and Yamaguchi prefectures. In response to this good news, the South Korean media reported that "exploratory drilling for the commercialization of oil and gas fields will begin this March. it would include the location of the exploration project
In response to this good news, the Korean side was seriously concerned about whether it would include the location of the exploration project in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Korean side.
According to JOGMEC, the drilling location of the exploratory well is about 150 kilometers off the northern coast of Yamaguchi Prefecture and 130 kilometers off the northwestern coast of Shimane Prefecture, at a water depth of about 240 meters.
It is clearly within Japan's EEZ, a fact that the South Korean government seems to have confirmed.
The following is from Masao Shimojo, a visiting professor at Tokai University and Shimane Prefectural University, which appeared in the Sankei Shimbun on February 4 under the title "Tentative Waters" created by weak-kneed diplomacy.
It is a must-read for the Japanese people and people around the world.
On January 17, Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC) announced that it would invest in an exploration project launched by INPEX, Japan's largest oil and natural gas development company, in the offshore areas Shimane and Yamaguchi prefectures. In response to this good news, the South Korean media reported that "exploratory drilling for the commercialization of oil and gas fields will begin this March. it would include the location of the exploration project
In response to this good news, the Korean side was seriously concerned about whether it would include the location of the exploration project in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Korean side.
According to JOGMEC, the drilling location of the exploratory well is about 150 kilometers off the northern coast of Yamaguchi Prefecture and 130 kilometers off the northwestern coast of Shimane Prefecture, at a water depth of about 240 meters.
It is clearly within Japan's EEZ, a fact that the South Korean government seems to have confirmed.
Avoiding a Solution: A Good Fishing Ground Stolen
However, this time, the South Korean side made an extensive report on the exploration project off the coast of Shimane and Yamaguchi prefectures because there are sea areas in Japan and South Korea where the middle line of the EEZ is undefined.
These waters are called "provisional waters" and include the Yamato Tai (Yamato Bank), a good fishing ground in the Sea of Japan, and the waters off Nagasaki Prefecture near the Hizen Torishima and Danjo Islands.
These waters belonged to Japan's EEZ, and Japan had jurisdiction over them.
Nevertheless, it was the existence of Takeshima that caused it to be declared a provisional zone.
It established the EEZ in 1994 with the entry into force of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and it covers 200 nautical miles (about 370 km) from the territorial sea baseline. The EEZ was supposed to cover 200 nautical miles from the territorial sea baseline.
However, to do so, Japan and South Korea had to revise the Japan-Korea Fisheries Agreement, which was concluded in 1965 and complete a new agreement.
Under the previous Japan-Korea Fisheries Agreement, it could only exercise exclusive jurisdiction in waters up to 12 nautical miles from the coastlines of both countries.
With the entry into force of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, it recognized an EEZ of 200 nautical miles from the baseline of the territorial waters. In the case of nearby sea areas, the question was where to place the baseline.
In the case of adjacent waters, the question became where to place the base point.
Therefore, in February 1996, the Korean government attempted to solidify its illegal occupation of Takeshima by constructing a berthing facility on the island.
The ROK could draw the EEZ's midline between Takeshima and the Oki Islands by setting the EEZ's base point at Takeshima.
When the Japanese government protested against the South Korean government's decision to build a berthing facility on Takeshima, crowds of South Koreans gathered in front of the Japanese embassy in Seoul every day to stage anti-Japanese demonstrations.
For this reason, it signed the Japan-Korea Fisheries Agreement of 1998 after shelving the Takeshima issue.
However, Japanese fishing vessels were not allowed to enter waters 12 nautical miles from Takeshima due to Japan's avoidance of resolving the Takeshima issue. As a result, a large part of Yamato Tai is a good fishing ground, was declared a provisional zone.
It meant that the Japanese government could not crack down on Korean fishing vessels operating illegally in the provisional waters.
As a result, the Japanese fishing industry suffered tremendous damage, including crab cage fishing.
Korea grows impudent in disregard for Japan.
On March 16, 2005, the Shimane Prefectural Assembly passed a "Takeshima Day" ordinance to establish territorial rights over Takeshima and bring peace to the Sea of Japan, which had become a "sea of overfishing.
However, when the Japanese government moved to block the passage of the Takeshima Day Ordinance, the Korean government changed its diplomatic policy from "quiet diplomacy" to "defense of Dokdo (the Korean name for Takeshima).
According to the Jiji Press (electronic version) dated April 29, 2006, referring to this feud between Japan and South Korea, Sun Zhihui, the director of the State Oceanic Administration of China, said on the 28th that South Korea's "all costs" regarding the Takeshima issue. China deserves a role model for its hard-line stance that spares no sacrifice. "
He emphasized that the friction between Japan and China in the East China Sea "has the ability and determination to contain Japan at sea if it is unavoidable."
The Japanese government's failure to resolve the Takeshima issue triggered the Chinese government's territorial sea incursions around the Senkaku Islands.
In response, the Japanese government signed the "Japan-Taiwan Fisheries Agreement" with Taiwan in 2001, perhaps to restrain China. Still, this agreement also set up a provisional water area, and it severely damaged the fishery industry in Okinawa.
The Takeshima issue is the root of all evil.
Japan's diplomacy has failed to resolve this issue for nearly 70 years.
The South Korean presidential office drew Takeshima on a box of Lunar New Year's gifts and distributed them to people from all walks of life, suggesting that they thought it was okay to do something like this.
This disregard for Japan is also evident in the way he flatly interfered with the nomination of the Sado Island Gold Mine as a World Heritage Site.
Even if South Korea pushes Japan to do something unreasonable, Japan just repeats "regret," and South Korea belittles Japan as unable to respond strategically.
If this is the case, Japan should start exploratory drilling of the oil and gas fields and at the same time reconfirm the EEZ with South Korea.
The uncharted waters of Yamato Tai and the seas near Hizen Torishima and the Men and Danjo Islands off Nagasaki Prefecture are also within Japan's EEZ.
Japan has the "sovereign right" to proceed with exploration projects there.
![](https://blogimg.goo.ne.jp/user_image/5b/a3/4799898f8e2a6b4e380708c170f2c0c0.jpg)
However, this time, the South Korean side made an extensive report on the exploration project off the coast of Shimane and Yamaguchi prefectures because there are sea areas in Japan and South Korea where the middle line of the EEZ is undefined.
These waters are called "provisional waters" and include the Yamato Tai (Yamato Bank), a good fishing ground in the Sea of Japan, and the waters off Nagasaki Prefecture near the Hizen Torishima and Danjo Islands.
These waters belonged to Japan's EEZ, and Japan had jurisdiction over them.
Nevertheless, it was the existence of Takeshima that caused it to be declared a provisional zone.
It established the EEZ in 1994 with the entry into force of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and it covers 200 nautical miles (about 370 km) from the territorial sea baseline. The EEZ was supposed to cover 200 nautical miles from the territorial sea baseline.
However, to do so, Japan and South Korea had to revise the Japan-Korea Fisheries Agreement, which was concluded in 1965 and complete a new agreement.
Under the previous Japan-Korea Fisheries Agreement, it could only exercise exclusive jurisdiction in waters up to 12 nautical miles from the coastlines of both countries.
With the entry into force of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, it recognized an EEZ of 200 nautical miles from the baseline of the territorial waters. In the case of nearby sea areas, the question was where to place the baseline.
In the case of adjacent waters, the question became where to place the base point.
Therefore, in February 1996, the Korean government attempted to solidify its illegal occupation of Takeshima by constructing a berthing facility on the island.
The ROK could draw the EEZ's midline between Takeshima and the Oki Islands by setting the EEZ's base point at Takeshima.
When the Japanese government protested against the South Korean government's decision to build a berthing facility on Takeshima, crowds of South Koreans gathered in front of the Japanese embassy in Seoul every day to stage anti-Japanese demonstrations.
For this reason, it signed the Japan-Korea Fisheries Agreement of 1998 after shelving the Takeshima issue.
However, Japanese fishing vessels were not allowed to enter waters 12 nautical miles from Takeshima due to Japan's avoidance of resolving the Takeshima issue. As a result, a large part of Yamato Tai is a good fishing ground, was declared a provisional zone.
It meant that the Japanese government could not crack down on Korean fishing vessels operating illegally in the provisional waters.
As a result, the Japanese fishing industry suffered tremendous damage, including crab cage fishing.
Korea grows impudent in disregard for Japan.
On March 16, 2005, the Shimane Prefectural Assembly passed a "Takeshima Day" ordinance to establish territorial rights over Takeshima and bring peace to the Sea of Japan, which had become a "sea of overfishing.
However, when the Japanese government moved to block the passage of the Takeshima Day Ordinance, the Korean government changed its diplomatic policy from "quiet diplomacy" to "defense of Dokdo (the Korean name for Takeshima).
According to the Jiji Press (electronic version) dated April 29, 2006, referring to this feud between Japan and South Korea, Sun Zhihui, the director of the State Oceanic Administration of China, said on the 28th that South Korea's "all costs" regarding the Takeshima issue. China deserves a role model for its hard-line stance that spares no sacrifice. "
He emphasized that the friction between Japan and China in the East China Sea "has the ability and determination to contain Japan at sea if it is unavoidable."
The Japanese government's failure to resolve the Takeshima issue triggered the Chinese government's territorial sea incursions around the Senkaku Islands.
In response, the Japanese government signed the "Japan-Taiwan Fisheries Agreement" with Taiwan in 2001, perhaps to restrain China. Still, this agreement also set up a provisional water area, and it severely damaged the fishery industry in Okinawa.
The Takeshima issue is the root of all evil.
Japan's diplomacy has failed to resolve this issue for nearly 70 years.
The South Korean presidential office drew Takeshima on a box of Lunar New Year's gifts and distributed them to people from all walks of life, suggesting that they thought it was okay to do something like this.
This disregard for Japan is also evident in the way he flatly interfered with the nomination of the Sado Island Gold Mine as a World Heritage Site.
Even if South Korea pushes Japan to do something unreasonable, Japan just repeats "regret," and South Korea belittles Japan as unable to respond strategically.
If this is the case, Japan should start exploratory drilling of the oil and gas fields and at the same time reconfirm the EEZ with South Korea.
The uncharted waters of Yamato Tai and the seas near Hizen Torishima and the Men and Danjo Islands off Nagasaki Prefecture are also within Japan's EEZ.
Japan has the "sovereign right" to proceed with exploration projects there.
![](https://blogimg.goo.ne.jp/user_image/5b/a3/4799898f8e2a6b4e380708c170f2c0c0.jpg)