Clarifying facts on Senkaku

I am writing to correct some views expressed in the article contributed by Mr. Zhang Hua, Spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy on Dec. 3, 2012 on the Senkaku Island, which is an inherent part of Japanese territory.

First, let me point out the fact that Japan incorporated the islands into its territory in January 1895, after ten years of thorough surveys; the process had nothing to do with the settlement of Sino-Japanese War in May 1895. Since then China had never raised its public objection, until 1971, after a survey indicating petroleum deposit under the seabed off the islands was published by ECAFE (UN Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East).

Second, as per the post-war legal framework, the San Francisco Peace Treaty legally defined the territory of post-war Japan. When San Francisco Treaty was concluded, the Senkaku Islands were left as territory of Japan, and none of the major Allied powers concerned, namely the US, the UK, France and China, raised objections.

Although China was not a signatory to the treaty, the Sino-Japanese Peace Treaty concluded with the Republic of China (Taiwan), which represented China in Cairo and Potsdam, approved that Japan had renounced all right, title and claim to Formosa (Taiwan) and the Pescadores, in accordance with Article 2 of the San Francisco Treaty. Records show that territorial status of Senkaku Islands was left untouched and even not taken up in the discussion.

Third, with respect to concerns from Asian countries and people with what Mr. Zhang calls right-wing force in Japan, I observe that the primary concern among people of Japan and neighboring countries is caused by the aggressive action of China, which is seen, according to media reports, as an attempt to challenge the status quo of the maritime order in East Asia. Like other people do, Japanese people cannot be indifferent to the regional security situations. At the same time, debates over the security issue among people in Japan are conducted in conformity with basic rules of democracy, and the current concern has not provoked violent demonstration as we have seen in China.

Since the end of the World War II Japan has consistently made major contributions to the peace and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific and beyond. These efforts are what China has recognized in the Joint Statement issued on the occasion of Chinese President Hu Jintao’s visit to Japan in 2008, stating “The Chinese side expressed its positive evaluation of Japan’s consistent pursuit of the path of a peaceful country and Japan’s contribution to the peace and stability of the world through peaceful means over more than sixty years since World War II.”

As far as I know, since then has occurred no event which would overturn the assessment above since 2008. — SETSUO OHMORI, Minister, Embassy of Japan