Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TOKYO3808
2006-07-07 08:43:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
LIANCOURT ROCKS: JAPAN PROTESTS ROK SURVEY
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHKO #3808 1880843 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 070843Z JUL 06 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4098 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 3156 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 9304 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHMFISS/COMUSJAPAN YOKOTA AB JA RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 003808
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/07/2016
TAGS: EWWT JA KS PHSA PREL
SUBJECT: LIANCOURT ROCKS: JAPAN PROTESTS ROK SURVEY
REF: TOKYO 3707
Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer. Reason: 1.4(B)(D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 003808
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/07/2016
TAGS: EWWT JA KS PHSA PREL
SUBJECT: LIANCOURT ROCKS: JAPAN PROTESTS ROK SURVEY
REF: TOKYO 3707
Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer. Reason: 1.4(B)(D).
1. (C) Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Shotaro Yachi called
in ROK Ambassador Ra Jong Yil on July 5 to protest South
Korea's marine survey in the Liancourt Rocks area. According
to MOFA Northeast Division Deputy Director Yo Takaba, the
protest included both the contested EEZ and the ROK-claimed
territorial sea around the islets. In briefing the press
after the meeting, unnamed MOFA officials said that Yachi had
characterized Korea's decision to conduct the survey, despite
Japan's requests not to do so, as "extremely regrettable."
According to Takaba, Ambassador Ra responded that he was
unable to "accept" the protest, stating that the ROK had an
inherent right to conduct the survey because the Liancourt
Rocks were Korean territory.
2. (C) Takaba characterized Ra's response as unemotional,
an impression confirmed when Ra subsequently spoke (in
English) to the press. VM Yachi made clear that Japan
considered the islets Japanese territory, and that Japan
reserved the right to conduct its own survey "at an
appropriate time."
3. (C) Takaba explained that the origin of the Liancourt
Rocks problem stemmed from the inability of the two sides to
agree on a proper demarcation of the EEZ. The last meeting
in mid-June had concluded without agreement, and another
round of talks were anticipated in mid-September. Takaba
emphasized that the Government of Japan remained committed to
settling the EEZ issue through that negotiating process.
4. (C) Takaba added that Japan believed it would be useful
to establish with the ROK a "transitional framework," such as
existed with China, for conducting the maritime research.
The framework, Takaba specified, would have to include prior
notification.
SCHIEFFER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/07/2016
TAGS: EWWT JA KS PHSA PREL
SUBJECT: LIANCOURT ROCKS: JAPAN PROTESTS ROK SURVEY
REF: TOKYO 3707
Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer. Reason: 1.4(B)(D).
1. (C) Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Shotaro Yachi called
in ROK Ambassador Ra Jong Yil on July 5 to protest South
Korea's marine survey in the Liancourt Rocks area. According
to MOFA Northeast Division Deputy Director Yo Takaba, the
protest included both the contested EEZ and the ROK-claimed
territorial sea around the islets. In briefing the press
after the meeting, unnamed MOFA officials said that Yachi had
characterized Korea's decision to conduct the survey, despite
Japan's requests not to do so, as "extremely regrettable."
According to Takaba, Ambassador Ra responded that he was
unable to "accept" the protest, stating that the ROK had an
inherent right to conduct the survey because the Liancourt
Rocks were Korean territory.
2. (C) Takaba characterized Ra's response as unemotional,
an impression confirmed when Ra subsequently spoke (in
English) to the press. VM Yachi made clear that Japan
considered the islets Japanese territory, and that Japan
reserved the right to conduct its own survey "at an
appropriate time."
3. (C) Takaba explained that the origin of the Liancourt
Rocks problem stemmed from the inability of the two sides to
agree on a proper demarcation of the EEZ. The last meeting
in mid-June had concluded without agreement, and another
round of talks were anticipated in mid-September. Takaba
emphasized that the Government of Japan remained committed to
settling the EEZ issue through that negotiating process.
4. (C) Takaba added that Japan believed it would be useful
to establish with the ROK a "transitional framework," such as
existed with China, for conducting the maritime research.
The framework, Takaba specified, would have to include prior
notification.
SCHIEFFER