Armed clash between South Korea/Japan feared over disputed islands

[phk]

Armed clash feared over disputed islands

April 21, 2006

SEOUL (AP) -- Japanese and South Korean negotiators raced yesterday to avert a clash over disputed islets as Seoul accused Tokyo of imperialistic ambitions and warned of a possible confrontation at sea.
    Behind-the-scenes talks on a diplomatic solution came as tensions mounted over a Japanese plan to survey resource-rich waters near the islands, which are occupied by South Korea but claimed by Japan.
    About 20 South Korean gunboats have been dispatched to the area in anticipation of the arrival of Japanese survey ships. The gunboats were scheduled to conduct high-seas seizure drills yesterday, but delayed the exercises due to bad weather.
    Japan put its plans to conduct a survey on hold yesterday while negotiations continue, Kyodo news service reported from Tokyo.
    Two Japan Coast Guard survey ships remain on standby, awaiting orders, after leaving port Wednesday afternoon.
    Japan Vice Foreign Minister Shotaro Yachi was to leave for Seoul today to try to find a peaceful solution to the dispute, Kyodo reported.
    In Seoul, the Foreign Ministry summoned the Japanese Embassy for talks, while warning of the possibility of a clash. Japan held the "key" to preventing conflict, ministry spokesman Choo Kyu-ho said.
    President Roh Moo-hyun has accused Tokyo of harboring imperialistic ambitions. Many South Koreans say the basis of Japan's claim is its 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula.
    The rocky outcroppings, called Dokdo by Koreans and Takeshima in Japan, are surrounded by rich fishing waters, and both countries claim the area as part of their exclusive economic zones. Korea Gas Corp. estimates that the area also has enough methane hydrate deposits to meet South Korean natural-gas demands for 30 years.
    Hundreds of riot police guarded the Japanese Embassy in Seoul as demonstrators gathered, chanting, "Dokdo is our territory." A dozen fishery workers later failed in an attempt to storm the compound.
    The countries are also at odds over Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's repeated visits to a war shrine in Tokyo.
     

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

If a war does break out, this will be a prime example of two democracies going to war with each other.

[ag]

If a war does break out, this will be a prime example of two democracies going to war with each other.

It won't. The worst that can happen is a few shots exchanged - it will never get to the intensity of a quiet day in Washington DC.

[Platypus]

If a war does break out, this will be a prime example of two democracies going to war with each other.

It will be the only example, and neither country is truly democratic. They are what I call  'semocracies'. Democratically elected government with no real opposition.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

If a war does break out, this will be a prime example of two democracies going to war with each other.

It will be the only example

There's a few more. I think both India and Pakistan were democracies when they fought their first war. There was a big Peru/Ecuador border conflict for awhile, and after the breakup of the Soviet Union there was a bunch of cases of Russia giving lots of military aid to seperatists campaigns in some other former Soviet republics, most of which were more or less democratic (at the time at least). Another case where this almost happened was Greece/Turkey.

and neither country is truly democratic. They are what I call  'semocracies'. Democratically elected government with no real opposition.

True of Japan, but not South Korea.

[WMS]

If a war does break out, this will be a prime example of two democracies going to war with each other.

It will be the only example

There's a few more. I think both India and Pakistan were democracies when they fought their first war. There was a big Peru/Ecuador border conflict for awhile, and after the breakup of the Soviet Union there was a bunch of cases of Russia giving lots of military aid to seperatists campaigns in some other former Soviet republics, most of which were more or less democratic (at the time at least). Another case where this almost happened was Greece/Turkey.

and neither country is truly democratic. They are what I call  'semocracies'. Democratically elected government with no real opposition.

True of Japan, but not South Korea.

I would suggest looking at the arguments here

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

That doesn't mention the El Salvador/Honduras war that started over a soccer game. I think both contries were democracies at the time.

[WMS]

That doesn't mention the El Salvador/Honduras war that started over a soccer game. I think both contries were democracies at the time.

Well...that's rather doubtful for El Salvador (not at all a freely and fairly elected government), and a bit less doubtful for Honduras.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

From what I understand, prior to the 80s El Salvador had a more or less democratic although often authoritarian government. Note it had a 2,3 Freedom House rating until then.

[WMS]

From what I understand, prior to the 80s El Salvador had a more or less democratic although often authoritarian government. Note it had a 2,3 Freedom House rating until then.

Hmm...prior to the 80s Freedom House had some damn odd ratings...ironically enough the coup (either 1979 or 1980 - I would check Wikipedia but the site appears to have gone bonkers with the font or something) actually was designed to improve matters - it was a centrist coup against a rightist regime, if you can believe that...