[Initial Report] Japan Claiming Sovereignty Over Dokdo

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] The cover of the 2021 edition of the Japanese Defense White Paper, published on the 13th, depicts a mounted warrior in ink wash painting style.

Last year, the cover featured images of Mount Fuji and plum blossoms, but it has changed. The Ministry of Defense stated that this was "to attract the attention of younger generations who are not interested in the Defense White Paper," but there are criticisms that using an aggressive warrior is inappropriate.

Until now, the Defense White Paper covers mainly used photos of equipment such as fighter jets or Self-Defense Force personnel.

It is not only the cover of this Defense White Paper that is provocative; the content is even more severe. Japan claims in the White Paper that "the territorial issues of the Northern Territories (the four Kuril Islands) and Takeshima (the name Japan claims for Dokdo) ? which are Japan's inherent territories ? remain unresolved."

They also provoked by marking Takeshima on maps showing the locations of Self-Defense Force units, including Dokdo’s location.

Regarding defense cooperation with South Korea, Japan asserted that "South Korea's negative responses continue." As with last year's Defense White Paper, it cited issues such as South Korea's response to the Rising Sun Flag at the October 2018 international fleet review hosted by South Korea, conflicts between South Korean navy destroyers and Japanese patrol aircraft in December of the same year, and added this year South Korea’s military exercises around Takeshima waters.

While introducing South Korea’s defense policy, Japan also created a separate one-page section titled ‘South Korea’s Military Buildup and Defense Budget.’ The emphasis on South Korea’s defense budget increase is interpreted as Japan’s attempt to justify its own defense spending increase.

Of course, this is not the first time Japan has claimed territorial rights over Dokdo in its Defense White Paper. Provocations regarding Dokdo have continued for 17 years since 2005.

The issue is the timing of the Defense White Paper’s release. It appears Japan intends to strengthen its territorial claims over Dokdo to the international community in conjunction with the opening of the Tokyo Olympics on the 23rd.

Moreover, with President Moon Jae-in attending the opening ceremony and efforts underway to hold a South Korea-Japan summit, the situation is complicated by factors such as Japan’s prior information leaks.

Our government’s stance is also firm. Regardless of President Moon’s attendance at the Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony or the holding of a summit between the two countries’ leaders, we are responding strongly to the Dokdo issue.

On the 13th, when the Japanese Defense White Paper was published, South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of National Defense summoned the charg? d'affaires of the Japanese Embassy in Korea and the defense attach? to strongly protest Japan’s territorial claims over Dokdo.

However, Japan maintains that the Dokdo territorial claim and President Moon’s attendance at the Tokyo Olympics are separate issues. Japan argues that since Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended the opening ceremony of the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics, President Moon should also attend the Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony.

The situation then was completely different from now. Prime Minister Abe’s attendance at the PyeongChang Olympics was a gesture of gratitude for South Korea removing Dokdo from the Korean Peninsula flag at the request of Japan and the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

But at this Tokyo Olympics, Japan is marking Dokdo as Japanese territory despite our requests. Ignoring our goodwill at the PyeongChang Olympics, Japan is openly revealing its territorial ambitions over Dokdo through the Defense White Paper and Tokyo Olympics maps. This eliminates even the minimal justification for President Moon to attend the Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony.

Our government still keeps open the possibility of President Moon attending the Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony, but there is no need to insist on attendance while Japan does not show a progressive attitude.

We must not be a mere prop on Japan’s congratulatory stage, which tries to justify war crimes by adopting the Rising Sun Flag ? a symbol of aggression and atrocities ? as an Olympic cheering flag.

Some argue that a South Korea-Japan summit should be held during the Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony to resolve historical issues and economic cooperation problems, but it is difficult to solve long-standing issues with just one meeting.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.