Territorial Ambitions

Japan Should Drop Irrational Claims to Dokdo

The specter of Japanese imperialism and colonialism has hit South Korea once again. On Friday, the Tokyo government released its new high school teachers' guidebook, which is apparently designed to keep claiming sovereignty over Korea's easternmost islets of Dokdo. Undoubtedly, the manual is part of Japan's continued efforts to express its territorial ambitions, totally ignoring the fact that Dokdo has been and is Korean territory.

Japan's Education Ministry did not directly mention Dokdo in the guidebook, allegedly taking into account Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's bid to improve relations with South Korea and other Asian neighbors. But the manual reads: ``The territorial issues should be dealt with on the basis of reasoned arguments rightfully advanced by the (Japanese) government and aim to deepen understanding about the issues." The sentence seems to imply that the territorial issues include Dokdo.

It is regrettable that the Tokyo government has no intention of giving up its claim to the volcanic islets. The controversial guidebook calls on high school teachers to teach geography and history in continuation of junior high curricula. This means that teachers can tell students that Japan is locked in a territorial row with Korea over Dokdo because the ministry already described Dokdo as a disputed territory like the Kuril Islands in a similar guidebook for junior high schools published in July 2008.

Japanese media reported that not mentioning Dokdo, or Takeshima in Japanese, reflected the Hatoyama's government's consideration of South Korea. But the Seoul government immediately expressed regret over the island country's renewed campaign to teach schoolchildren about its claim to the islets. It reaffirmed that Dokdo unequivocally belongs to Korea, saying in a statement that no territorial dispute exists between the two countries, whatever claim the Japanese side makes.

South Koreans cannot help venting their anger and frustration over Japan's move. They have held high expectations for Prime Minister Hatoyama since his Democratic Party of Japan won the general elections last summer, ending the monopoly of power by the conservative Liberal Democratic Party. They have also hoped for better Korea-Japan ties, which have soured on-and-off due to thorny issues such as ``comfort women," history textbooks and the Dokdo issue.

It is disappointing to see that Japan still has a long way to go before truly repenting for its aggression toward neighboring countries, brutal colonial rule and wartime atrocities. People are also infuriated about Japan's decision to pay 99 yen ($1) in pension refunds to seven South Korean women who were mobilized into forced labor during Japanese colonial rule. The victims are refusing to accept the money in protest against the tiny amount offered for their suffering. This case shows how insincere Japan has been in apologizing and compensating victims of its militarism and imperialism.

In this situation, how can Korea and Japan build a future-oriented and mature partnership? Reconciliation, friendship and co-prosperity between two countries only sound like meaningless rhetoric if they are devoid of real actions to acknowledge, apologize and take responsibility for the disgraced past. We urge Japan to make the utmost effort to heal the wounds of the victims and make true reconciliations with its Asian neighbors.