1. Takeshima/Dokdo

2. 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
Liancourt Rocks/Takeshima/Dokdo

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

5. 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 ,300 Japanese, now 16,500 Russians
Fishing, fish processing, forestry, farming though economic value is relatively small
Administered by Japan
South Kuriles/Northern Territories

6. Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands http://www. bloglobal

8. 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 , 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

9. 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

10. Japan’s Position

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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