Takeshima/Dokdo

Liancourt Rocks/Takeshima/Dokdo 185,000 square meters Volcanic rocks, thin layer of soil No drinkable water Two permanent Korean residents No significant economic value (though EEZ, possibility of gas and minerals in surrounding waters) Administered by Japan 1905-1945 Liancourt Rocks/Takeshima/Dokdo

Map of the Northern Territories source: http://www. demis

South Kuriles/Northern Territories From Hokkaido: 16 km to Kunashiri, 3.7 km to Habomais 5036 square kilometers (Etorofu 3100) Four big islands and many small ones In 1945 17,300 Japanese, now 16,500 Russians Fishing, fish processing, forestry, farming though economic value is relatively small Administered by Japan 1855-1945 South Kuriles/Northern Territories

Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands http://www. bloglobal

http://japanfocus.org/-Gavan-McCormack/3464

Senkaku/Diaoyu/Diaoyutai 170 km. to Ishigaki and Taiwan, 330 km to China 8 small islets, 7 sq. km, no residents Annexed by Japan in 1895, administered by the US 1952 -1972, returned to Japan with Okinawa Claimed by Taiwan and PRC since late 1960s Continental Shelf and EEZ (Oil? Gas? fish) Strategic value most important-sea lanes and bases on Okinawa Senkaku/Diaoyu/Diaoyutai

San-Francisco Peace Treaty Article 2 (a) Japan recognizing the independence of Korea, renounces all right, title and claim to Korea, including the islands of Quelpart, Port Hamilton and Dagelet. (b) Japan renounces all right, title and claim to Formosa and the Pescadores. (c) Japan renounces all right, title and claim to the Kurile Islands, and to that portion of Sakhalin and the islands adjacent to it over which Japan acquired sovereignty as a consequence of the Treaty of Portsmouth of 5 September 1905. San-Francisco Peace Treaty Article 2

Japan’s Position

Northern Territories Never held by Russia prior to 1945 Soviet occupation illegal (breach of non- aggression pact) SF Peace Treaty-two small islands are part of Hokkaido, two big ones are “South Kuriles/Chishima”-not renounced USSR was not a party to SF Peace Treaty- cannot gain from it Northern Territories

Takeshima/Dokdo Historically Japanese 1905-not annexation but confirmation of ownership Unrelated to colonial rule of Korea Not mentioned in SF Peace Treaty Korean occupation illegal Takeshima/Dokdo

Senkaku/Diaoyu/Diaoyutai Not included in SF Peace Treaty Incorporated in 1895-no signs of China administration and unrelated to Sino- Japanese War and colonization of Taiwan Not mentioned in 1895 Shimonoseki Treaty Japan’s rights confirmed by the US Senkaku/Diaoyu/Diaoyutai

Today: territorial disputes major stumbling stones in Japan’s relations with ROK (DPRK?), PRC (Taiwan?), Russia Senkakus: strategic importance, administered by Japan BUT…. why demands for Northern Territories and Takeshima? No significant value, understanding that Russian and ROK cannot accept Japan’s demands Conclusions