Japan draws Korean ire again with fresh claim to Dokdo

The Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministry issued a statement on Monday to protest a recent Japanese history textbook that renewed Japan`s territorial claim to Korea’s easternmost islets of Dokdo.

“We strongly protest the authorization of a high school textbook that includes content rationalizing and embellishing a wrong view of history and urge a fundamental correction,” the statement said.

“We express deep disappointment and regret over the inclusion in the authorized high school textbook content that claims Dokdo, which is clearly our territory according to history, geography and international law, as Japanese territory,” it added. “We make it clear once again that we will never tolerate any unjust claim to our territory.”

“The biggest victims of the distorted view of history as shown in Japan’s high school textbook review will be youths, who will shoulder Japan’s future.”

The Foreign Ministry also pledged to “respond sternly and gravely to Japan’s territorial provocation through a textbook review.”

Certain experts say, however, that the government has limited options to take effective action except for formal diplomatic protests such as summoning the Japanese ambassador to Korea, a visit of protest made by the Korean ambassador to Japan to the Japanese Foreign Ministry, and recalling Korean ambassador to Japan.

Others say that in a situation in which Korea effectively occupies Dokdo, making the islets appear to be the subject of an international dispute is disadvantageous to Seoul.

Seemingly aware of such arguments, Seoul announced a strengthening of publicity efforts for Korea’s territorial rights over Dokdo. The Korean Foreign Ministry opened a new website for the islets (dokdo.mofat.go.kr), released a Dokdo app for smartphones, and distributed new Dokdo pamphlets in Korean, Japanese and English.

Korean academia also blasted Japan`s authorization of the new textbook. Shin Yong-ha, professor emeritus of Ulsan University and head of the Dokdo Society, said Japanese history textbook authors never responded to the Japanese government’s request to describe Dokdo as “illegally occupied by Korea” but are following the Japanese government’s policy.

“If high school textbooks as well as those for elementary and middle school repeat Japan’s territorial claim to Dokdo, students would take the claim as truth and this will ultimately threaten peace in Asia,” he said.

Nam Sang-goo, a senior researcher at the Northeast Asian History Foundation, said, “So far, Japan’s territorial claim to Dokdo has been voiced mainly by Japan’s Shimane Prefecture and conservative politicians but is spreading as public opinion of Japanese society overall.”

zeitung@donga.com savoring@donga.com