Japan Coast Guard Could Patrol Dokdo

The Japanese Coast Guard decided to dispatch patrol ships if a maritime research expedition around Korea’s Dokdo islets by Seoul in July infringes on their announced Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Japan has claimed Korea’s easternmost islets and says that the maritime boundary for their EEZ lays between the Dokdo and Ulleungdo of Korea.

In this regard, it is likely to spark conflicts again between Korea and Japan over the islets. Last April, there was a major military tension provoked by Japan in an attempt to conduct an unlawful maritime survey near Dokdo.

Ishibasi Mikio, a senior officer of the Japanese coast guard, announced the dispatch plan yesterday in a meeting held by the House of the Representatives in the foreign affairs committee.

“The Japanese government will strongly require a halt to maritime surveys in the Japanese EEZ by dispatching patrol boats to send radio messages when confirming that Korean ships researching there, and we will try diplomatic channels as well to stop the survey,” he added.

Kwang-Am Cheon iam@donga.com