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| China-Japan-Koreas |
| Japan to Set Up Radar on Disputed Islands |
| 2005-03-28 |
| TOKYO (AP) - Japan said Monday it will set up weather radar on a pair of Pacific Ocean islands at the center of a territorial dispute with China. The Land and Transport Ministry will spend $3.08 million to install the radar in June atop an existing structure straddling the two rocky outposts that comprise the Okinotorishima islands. The radar will collect wave patterns and other meteorological data, but will also monitor ships within Japan's territorial waters, ministry official Toru Noda said. Japan claims the Okinotorishima outcroppings - heavily fortified by cement embankments - are islands that enable it to extend its exclusive economic zone far into the Pacific. China does not dispute Japan's territorial claim to Okinotorishima, about 1,070 miles southwest of Tokyo, but says they're only rocks - meaning Beijing is free to exploit the natural resources in some of the waters currently claimed by Japan. Under international law, an island is defined as a naturally formed land mass that stays above water during high tide, and can be used to determine the limits of a country's economic zone. Japan added cement embankments to prevent the already small islets' further erosion and sends workers there twice a year for maintenance. The radar will be installed during their next regular visit in June, Noda said. The outcroppings have triggered recent disputes between the two countries. Japan on Friday accused China of illegally conducting undersea surveys in its territory 22 times last year, including nine times near Okinotorishima. Tokyo has three telescopes on the islets to monitor Chinese ships in the area. A delegation of Japanese conservatives plans to visit the islets this week to study the possibility of building a lighthouse it hopes would strengthen Japan's foothold there. Tokyo's metropolitan government, which has jurisdiction over the islets, plans to begin fishing in nearby waters beginning in April. Its governor has proposed building a power plant there. Japan and China are also at odds over another group of southern small islands - called Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China - in the rich fishing waters of the East China Sea. |
| Posted by:Frank G |
| #6 The legacy of the Clintoon Dynasty, from gutting the military to infecting State with Moonbats and PCized Ambassadors, will evenutally be our end -- if we don't sterilize every institution we have. Amazing. And the Wank-o-Matic Wife Wants to be CIC. Right. |
| Posted by: .com 2005-03-28 8:01:31 PM |
| #5 The Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force is nothing that China wants to mess with today. Japan has been building up the MSDF for some time and their training is serious when it comes to defending their territory. Look it up. There are several very good websites that link to the MSDF's capabilities. They really don't need the US all that much to defend their interests these days (especially since Clinton and his ilk reduced the US Navy to about 200 combat ships effective - something the MSDF might just be able to challenge these days). |
| Posted by: LC FOTSGreg 2005-03-28 7:57:04 PM |
| #4 They're under the Umbrella of Pax Americana/Trumana/Reganus. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2005-03-28 7:29:13 PM |
| #3 I think it's time we say we're thinking of sharing nukes with the Japanese. (Don't know if they'd want them or not, but saying it would certainly get an interesting reaction.) I think they've shown they will not misuse them (if they get them) - but the thought of the Japanese having them would surely get some Chinese knickers in a twist. And that's a good thing. ;-p |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2005-03-28 6:13:10 PM |
| #2 But the last time, Japan was an Industrial nation, and China had a (basically) 19th century military. Mao changed all that. The PLA is nothing to mess with. |
| Posted by: mojo 2005-03-28 5:57:41 PM |
| #1 Do the Chinese really want to mess with the Japanese? The last time they crossed paths, it didn't turn out too well for the Chinese. (Yeah, yeah - I know the Japanese are nicer now. But still....) |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2005-03-28 2:56:14 PM |