竹島問題の歴史

7.9.11

"The Ambabassador and VFM Yachi Discuss Liancourt Rock Dispute"

The following is supposedly a SECRET document posted by Wikileaks that describes an April 20, 2006 conversation between former US Ambassador to Japan J. Thomas Schieffer and Japan's Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Shotaro Yachi concerning the proposed 2006 Japanese maritime survey of waters near Liancourt Rocks (Takeshima/Dokdo). The interesting quote from the document is the following:
2. (S) The Ambassador stated the United States understands that Japan is within its rights under international law. The Koreans are behaving irrationally, and the United States is concerned that they may do something crazy, causing a major problem. Everyone needs to back off, he stressed, to enable the matter to be resolved peacefully. We do not want our two allies shooting at each other, he asserted. The Ambassador advised that he might get in touch with FM Aso later in the day.
Here is the whole document, as posted HERE at The Kyungyang Shinmun web site.
THE AMBASSADOR AND VFM YACHI DISCUSS LIANCOURT ROCK DISPUTE
S E C R E T TOKYO 002154  
SIPDIS
SECDEF PASS TO DUSD LAWLESS
NSC PASS TO D. WILDER AND V. CHA  
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/20/2026  
TAGS: PREL MARR KS JA 
SUBJECT: THE AMBASSADOR AND VFM YACHI DISCUSS LIANCOURT ROCK DISPUTE  
REF: TOKYO 002098  
Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer. Reason: 1.4 (b)(d).  
1. (S) At 11:00 a.m. on April 20, the Ambassador spoke with VFM Yachi, at Yachi‘s request, regarding simmering tensions between Japan and the ROK over a planned Japanese maritime survey near the disputed Liancourt Rocks (reftel).  
He explained, briefly, that the ROK intended to propose to an international commission in June that features on the bottom of the sea in the disputed area be given Korean names. Japan wants to survey the area in order to make a counter-proposal at the meeting. Korea, Yachi stated, may use force to block the survey ship. Yachi further noted that he might travel to Seoul the following day, April 21, to try to resolve the matter peacefully.  
2. (S) The Ambassador stated the United States understands that Japan is within its rights under international law. The Koreans are behaving irrationally, and the United States is concerned that they may do something crazy, causing a major problem. Everyone needs to back off, he stressed, to enable the matter to be resolved peacefully. We do not want our two allies shooting at each other, he asserted. The Ambassador advised that he might get in touch with FM Aso later in the day.  
3. (C) Yachi thanked the Ambassador for his concern and said he would do his best. He requested that the Ambassador send an Embassy representative to the Foreign Ministry to hear Japan’s position on the issue.  
SCHIEFFER