Welcome to Issues in Japan.
I would like to share the insights and thoughts of Professor Yoshihiko Yamada, Tokai University.
The theme is: “Japan's Sovereignty in Action: Senkaku Marine Survey.”
On January 31, Ishigaki City in Okinawa Prefecture, which has the Senkaku Islands within its administrative area, conducted a marine survey of the Senkaku waters.
This was the first oceanographic survey in this area since the Tokyo Metropolitan Government conducted one in 2012.
At the time, Governor Shintaro Ishihara planned for the Tokyo Metropolitan Government to purchase the Senkaku Islands to build communication facilities and lighthouses to protect the safety of merchant ships and fishing vessels, and to establish an international marine environment research institute.
However, the then Democratic Party administration disliked the purchase by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and nationalized the Senkaku Islands without any planning.
Since then, even the administrative staff of Ishigaki City has been banned from landing on the islands and has not been allowed to approach the surrounding waters.
●Safety of navigation assured by the Coast Guard.
The government has confirmed with the United States that the Senkaku Islands are within the scope of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty, but this is based on the premise that they are under Japanese administration.
Currently, the Senkaku Islands are uninhabited and there are no plans to utilize the islands.
Presently, one of the major themes of international marine management is marine environmental conservation.
The impact of the ocean on the global environment and marine ecosystems is significant.
With the implementation of marine environmental protection measures as a pillar, Japan can show that the Senkaku Islands are under its administration.
Therefore, Ishigaki City has decided to put forward marine environmental conservation as a measure to clearly show Japan's sovereignty and Ishigaki City's administrative authority.
They received assurances from the Japan Coast Guard that the survey was an official one conducted by Ishigaki City, and that as long as they were using legally qualified vessels, there was no reason to restrict them, and that the Coast Guard would protect the safety of their navigation.
●There is an urgent need to develop laws to prevent Chinese fishermen from landing on the Senkaku Islands.
In the waters of the Senkaku Islands, Japan's security system against Chinese maritime patrol vessels is solid.
However, if a large number of small fishing boats carrying fishermen, known as maritime militias, arrive in the future, it will be difficult to prevent their landing and occupation.
A security and defense system on land needs to be put in place, but domestic laws are often inadequate, and the legislation needs to be hastened.
After this investigation, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said, "The government would like to refrain from commenting on the activities of local governments and private organizations one by one."
This statement can be taken as approval of the activities of Ishigaki City.
For detailed information please visit the following:
https://youtu.be/CYCy8R4MpnQ
That’s all for now.
I have shared the insights and thoughts of Professor Yoshihiko Yamada, Tokai University.
Thank you for your visit and interest.
