JAPAN / SOUTH KOREA: Japan tones down on island dispute: South Koreans not satisfied

Record ID: 465487

  • Title: JAPAN / SOUTH KOREA: Japan tones down on island dispute: South Koreans not satisfied
  • Date: 26th December 2009
  • Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (DECEMBER 25, 2009) (REUTERS) PAN DOWN: EXTERIOR OF BUILDING WHERE EDUCATION GUIDELINE EXPLANATORY MEETING IS BEING HELD PEOPLE BEING SEATED IN MEETING ROOM OFFICIALS DISTRIBUTING EDUCATION GUIDELINES TO ATTENDANCE ATTENDANCE READING GUIDELINE THE GUIDELINE THE MEETING
  • Embargoed: 10th January 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVABMBPYGLX860JT26WM59UDJPKL
  • Story Text: Japan toned down its stance on a territorial dispute with South Korea on Friday (December 25) when it new guidelines for history education at high schools, which dropped all references to Japan's claims on a bunch of rocky islands that are claimed by South Korea.
    The 350-page-long guidelines handed out to educational consultants from Japan's 48 prefectures did not refer to the islands called "Takeshima" by Japan and "Dokdo" by South Korea. The set of desolate islands roughly equi-distant from Japan and South Korea are at the center of a long-simmering feud over their ownership.
    In the manual, the description of the islets was removed from the latest edition, but it adopted an ambiguous expression, calling for a deeper understanding of Japan's "territorial problems."
    These guidelines contradicted that for junior high schools released in July, 2008, by the previous conservative administration, where "Takeshima" was noted as part of Japan.
    Japanese media saw the omission of the diplomatically provocative islands as a change after the new Democratic government came to power last August.
    Chief cabinet secretary Hirofumi Hirano, however, brushed off media speculations that the seemingly more moderate tone in the guideline was a diplomatic gesture toward South Korea.
    "It has nothing to do with diplomatic considerations because it's about textbooks to teach our own people and children," said Hirano.
    Education minister Tatsuo Kawabata also said the omission of the islands' names was to avoid redundancy and enhance objectiveness.
    "High school education needs to be more objective and concise, so we emphasized only the importance of the territorial issues in the guideline while letting the student refer to what they have learned about the issues in junior high schools," said Kawabata.
    However, a local government official from Shimane prefecture said he was disappointed with the new guidelines.
    "The guideline didn't include the word 'Takeshima' even though the ministry said it comprehensively included what was taught in junior high school textbooks. I think they should have clearly stipulated the word 'Takeshima' in the guideline," said Yasushi Kikkawa, an education consultant of the municipal government of Shimane prefecture.
    Shimane's prefectural government, which claims administrative rights over the islands, have held events since 2005 to commemorate what they say is the day 'Takeshima' became part of Japan nearly a century ago. Shimane's moves have angered South Korea, who claims 'Dokdo' has been part of the country for at least as long.
    Meanwhile, South Korea's Foreign Ministry expressed regret on Friday (December 25) over Japan's stance on the islets in its new educational handbook.
    "Our government expresses regret since we are worried the new guidebook could give a wrong territorial idea to Japan's new generation and bring the negative influence to future-oriented relations between the two countries," Foreign Ministry spokesman Moon Tae-young told a news briefing.
    "Whatever claims the Japanese government makes, we re-emphasise our stance that there is no territorial problem between Japan and South Korea," Moon added.
    Seoul media said Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama had given a last minute instruction to drop the name of the controversial islets from the guidebook to stress the need for closer relations among Asian countries but Japanese officials deny any political interference.
    South Korea has stationed a coast guard unit on the islets since 1953 to re-affirms its rights to the islands.
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