Events in the world always have a way of throwing up sharp contrasts. We are all fully acquainted now with the Israeli response (labelled as disproportionate in diplomatic understatement) to the kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers. The following is a story I just read on Reuters (16th August 2006).
================================================
TOKYO (Reuters) - A Japanese fisherman died after a Russian border patrol boat fired on a fishing boat, apparently the first fatality in 50 years in a dispute over northern waters, Japan Coast Guard officials said on Wednesday.
Japan's Foreign Ministry said it had asked the Russian side to confirm the facts and that, if it was the case that a fisherman had been shot to death, it would protest vigorously and may seek both an apology and compensation.
In a statement it demanded the immediate release of the crabbing craft and its three remaining crew members, who were seized east of Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido.
Kyodo news service quoted Mikhail Galuzin, a diplomat at the Russian Embassy in Tokyo, as saying the patrol had fired after the boat defied an order to stop and had seized it in Russian waters. Galuzin had visited Japan's foreign ministry to explain the incident, Kyodo added.
Japan and Russia have been locked in a long-running dispute over the islands, known as the Northern Territories in Japan and the Southern Kuriles in Russia.
The simmering feud has prevented them from signing a peace treaty more than 60 years after the end of World War Two.
The four islands, as close as 15 km (9 miles) from Hokkaido, were seized by the Soviet Union at the end of the war in 1945, forcing about 17,000 Japanese residents to flee.
Russia has said it is willing to hand over two islands but Japan insists that all four must be returned.
======================================================
No disproportionate response to be expected here. After all, Japan is not Israel and Russia isn't exactly Lebanon.
Just imagine for a moment Japan using the Israeli precedent to hit at Russia. Call in airstrikes. take out civilian infrastructure. Hmm... Bush and Blair would say a ceasefire is not feasible without a lasting solution...
dreamtime posted on Aug 17, 2006
| views: 284
Comments
-
hotaka said on Aug 19, 2006....
Japan and Taiwan also disagree over who "owns" a particular island and since there is natural gas below the dispute is heating up. Korea and Japan also have a dispute over an island. But Japan has to be careful with the other oriental countries because they are still steaming about what happened during and before the Second World War. In the case of Russia, Japan can make certain threats and demands. It would be a poor decision to make such adamant statements to Taiwan or Korea.
I wonder if you have heard about Canada and Denmark arguing over who owns a rock of three kilometres width between Greenland and Ellesmere Island. With global warming melting the arctic ice packs natural resources of the north will be a hot issue for any country with northern territory. Now Canada is struggling not only with Denmark but also the U.S. It seems the U.S. navy finds it is acceptable to run submarines through Canadian waters without seeking permission first. Things are going to get interesting in the next 20 years.
-
dreamtime said on Aug 22, 2006....
Speaking of land disputes... its a pretty prevalent problem. There are many disputed territories around the world. Closer to home here in South East Asia, we have the Spratly Islands... China, Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei have tried to stake a claim.
And even closer to home, Malaysia and Singapore have a dispute over a teeny weeny piece of rock out at sea measuring 137 metres (at its longest) at low tide: Pedra Branca.
This should be an interesting one because after decades of dispute, the two countries have resorted to a civilised means of resolving it... The International Court of Justice will decide on the fate of the rock (and the lighthouse on it). The case will be heard in 2007 and the two countries have submitted their written legal arguments...
I wonder if all of the disputed territories around the world could be brought before the ICJ in like manner.
-
hotaka said on Aug 23, 2006....
I think it would be a good idea. I was just thinking that it seems no one has learned to share. Either split it down the middle, or maybe we should just say all disputed lands become international and should be left as nature reserves.
How high is that rock anyway? With global warming won't it slowly sink below sea level?
-
dreamtime said on Aug 28, 2006....
you are right about the rock sinking below sea level. as it is it is hard to assert that the entire 137 metre stretch of it is above sea level.
visit this website for a view of pedra branca and the lighthouse on it. http://www.sgezine.com.sg/update/0403update.html