Slyly, China extends its reach

Tuesday, May 29, 2001

By SHIGEO HIRAMATSU

Since early April, three Chinese vessels have been conducting marine research operations in the East China Sea, on the Japanese side of the midway line between Japan and China. These activities are based on a memorandum that the Japanese and Chinese governments exchanged in February. In accordance with the agreement, China gave advance notice of the operations to Japan and Japan approved the plan, the Japanese Foreign Ministry says. The Chinese vessels, however, are using pneumatic devices for acoustic exploration and conducting drilling tests, obviously outside the scope of the scientific research that Japan and China agreed to.

For the past several years, Chinese vessels have been conducting research activities in the same zone, defying Japanese protests. In 1999, a total of more than 30 vessels, sometimes accompanied by warships, conducted research operations in the waters. In 2000, a Chinese spy boat crossed the Tsushima Strait between Japan and South Korea and then the Tsugaru Strait in Japan, moving southward along the Pacific coast to waters off Cape Inubo in Chiba Prefecture. There the vessel reportedly conducted intelligence-gathering operations focused on metropolitan Tokyo before going back to China. These activities prompted Japan to exchange a memorandum with China about controlling research operations in the East China Sea.

The document requires Japan and China to give two months' notice through diplomatic channels on marine research activities in the East China Sea, which is known as Dong Hai in China. Japan must notify China about entering "waters near China," while China must notify Japan about entering "waters near Japan in which Japan has an interest." The latter wording appears to imply that Japan has no rights in the waters.

Under the framework, both nations must provide the names of the research organizations, vessels and ship officers involved, as well as the purpose, specific details and site of proposed research activities. The document says that exchanges under this framework should not influence either side's position regarding maritime-law issues.

Both China and Japan must observe the diplomatic agreement. The Japanese Foreign Ministry says the agreement should help control unchecked Chinese marine research activities in the East China Sea. The most serious problem with this agreement, however, is that it fails to define the two nations' "exclusive economic zones" and the continental shelf lines. In fact, the agreement became necessary because the demarcation lines had not been established.

By allowing China to conduct marine research activities without establishing demarcation lines, Japan effectively sanctioned such activities on the Japanese side of the midway line.

A Chinese research vessel is already active in a wide area between Amami-Oshima Island to Ishigaki Island. Underwater is a large continental shelf. The ship is reportedly using pneumatic devices for acoustic exploration in the waters, where it has repeatedly conducted illegal research operations in recent years. Meanwhile, 400 kilometers west of Yakushima Island, another Chinese vessel is reportedly conducting drilling tests.

With pneumatic devices for exploration and drilling equipment, the Chinese are obviously conducting geological surveys of the sea bottom, disregarding Japanese rights. The Japanese Foreign Ministry says the Chinese activities are for scientific research only and do not pose problems for Japan. Another Chinese research vessel now in the area does not appear to be engaged in abnormal activities, according to the ministry. Going by appearances, some research activities may not seem abnormal, however.

The Foreign Ministry says it has received information about four more Chinese research vessels in the waters. Thus, a total of seven Chinese research vessels are active on the Japanese side of the midway line. Japan is likely to receive further notifications notices from China about marine research activities in the zone.

Some 30 years ago, four Japanese oil companies established concessions and applied for exploration in the same waters, but never received approval for their plans from the Japanese government. Yet Chinese vessels are openly conducting exploration in the zone with blessings from the Japanese government. By failing to control Chinese activities, Japanese government officials are effectively betraying their own country.

Shigeo Hiramatsu is professor at Kyorin University. This article was translated from the Sanken Shimbun's Seiron column of May 19.

More Okinawans accept presence of U.S. military

Sunday, May 20, 2001

The percentage of Okinawans who accept the presence of U.S. military facilities in their prefecture exceeds the percentage of those opposed to the bases for the first time since 1975, according to the results of a government poll released Saturday.

According to the Cabinet Office, 45.7 percent of the residents responding to the survey said they accept the U.S. bases on their soil, saying they are "necessary" or "unavoidable."

But 44.4 percent of Okinawans said they are not happy at playing host to the U.S. military.

The poll questioned 2,000 adults, of whom 68.7 percent responded.

Among the male respondents, those who tolerate the U.S. military presence outnumber opponents by 54.7 percent to 39.4 percent, but the corresponding figures are reversed among female respondents, at 38.5 percent and 48.3 percent.

According to the poll, 20.6 percent said the U.S. bases are "unnecessary," down 4.3 points from the previous poll in 1994, while 23.8 percent said they pose a danger to Japan's security, down 5.6 points.

The poll also showed that 9.8 percent believe the U.S. military presence is "necessary" for Japan's security, up 2 points, while 35.9 percent said it is "unavoidable," up 4.9 points.

Okinawa accounts for only 0.6 percent of Japan's total land mass, but is home to about 75 percent of the land occupied by U.S. military facilities in Japan.

The findings of the poll come at a time when people in Okinawa are concerned about their jobs amid a prolonged economic slowdown. The jobless rate in Okinawa is roughly twice the national average.

Tetsumi Takara, a professor of law at the University of the Ryukyus, said the economic benefits of U.S. bases might have influenced the responses.

"I guess the economic benefit may have helped many people reply that 'the bases are unavoidable'," he said.

"But it is too early to conclude that the latest survey shows 'Okinawa approves of the bases' because public opinion can changes drastically in Okinawa, particularly after accidents and scandals involving the U.S. military," he said.

Okinawa 'not crucial'

WASHINGTON (Kyodo) A scholar on defense issues at a U.S. think tank told visiting Okinawa Gov. Keiichi Inamine on Friday that the number of U.S. Marines stationed in the prefecture could be drastically cut from the current 15,000 level as the bases there have little military value.

Michael O'Hanlon, senior fellow at the Department of Foreign Policy Studies at the Brookings Institution in Washington, said the United States, however, is concerned that if it agrees to reduce or integrate its military bases in Okinawa, it would eventually have to completely withdraw its military presence from the region.

But O'Hanlon told Inamine that the U.S. could agree to reduce the number of troops in Okinawa if the prefectural government allows the U.S. military to retain certain facilities such as ports and airports.

Inamine told O'Hanlon that any kind of "trade-off" concerning the base problem would be difficult and would be met with strong opposition from local residents.

The governor is in Washington on the first leg of a two-week tour of the U.S. to confer with senior U.S. government officials on issues concerning the planned relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa's Ginowan.

He is also hoping to convey to Americans the feelings of local residents, who view the U.S. military presence in the prefecture as a heavy burden.

Calls for a reduction in the U.S. military presence in Okinawa have become stronger in the wake of a series of crimes committed by U.S. Marines stationed there and their family members.

The Okinawa Prefectural Assembly and several town assemblies have adopted resolutions calling for withdrawal of the troops or a reduction in their number.

Okinawa Prefecture is home to about 75 percent of land occupied by U.S. military facilities in Japan.