竹島問題の歴史

8.3.14

2006 April 20 - "The Ambassador and VFM Yachi Discuss Liancourt Rocks Dispute"

If THIS DOCUMENT has already been posted, please let me know.
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S E C R E T TOKYO 002154

SIPDIS

 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

7.3.14

1864 Japanese Map entitled 大日本海陸全圖, by Seiken Gengyo and Ebisuya Shoshichi

I am pretty sure we have discussed this map before, but I cannot find it on this site. What do we know about this map and the mapmaker? I have a renewed interest in it.

I notice that many of the Japanese place names on the map are in katakana, including Matsushima (マツシマ), but Ulleungdo is labeled in kanji (竹島 -Takeshima). Likewise, other larger islands. such as Tsushima (對馬), are labeled in kanji, but their smaller, neighboring islands are generally labeled in katakana. Is it possible the mapmaker used a system whereby he labeled larger, main islands in kanji and smaller, nearby islands in katakana to show they were close enough to be considered neighboring islands of the larger island?

If such a system was used, maybe the "Matsushima" (マツシマ) on this map was not referring to Liancourt Rocks, but rather to Ulleungdo's neighboring island of Jukdo (竹島)? That would explain why the two islands are so close together on this map and similar maps and why Matsushima is drawn as one island instead of two.