hankyoreh

The territorial dispute between China and Japan that was ignited by the Japanese government's decision to nationalize the Senkaku Islands (called the Diaoyudao Islands by China) in September 2012 shows no signs of dying down. Indeed, after new leaders with strong nationalistic tendencies took over in both countries, it almost seems as if they are in a competition over who can raise tensions more. The growing tension between the two countries is complicating and destabilizing the political situation throughout Northeast Asia, and it may even have an effect on North Korea's nuclear and missile testing.



In a Jan. 11 press briefing, Japanese prime minister Abe Shinzo, who touts the creation of a stronger Japan, emphatically declared that "there is no room for negotiation" in the dispute with China about the Senkakus. He also strongly criticized Beijing, declaring that, "as a responsible member of the international community, it is wrong [for China] to damage Japanese companies and Japanese citizens in order to achieve political objectives."

Chinese party leader Xi Jinping, whose inaugural slogan was "the rise of China," does not appear any more eager to give ground. China has been periodically sending surveillance vessels inside Japanese waters since Japan nationalized the Senkakus, and more recently China has gone a step further by dispatching fighters.

On Jan. 7-8, four Chinese surveillance vessels lingered in Japanese waters near the Senkakus for 13 hours. And then on Jan. 10, Chinese fighters entered Japan’s air defense identification zone, just outside Japan's airspace, which was followed by Japan scrambling some of its own jets.

In response to these actions, the Japanese Coast Guard has moved to create a 400 person-strong maritime police task force to strengthen defenses of the Senkakus. Japan also decided to adjust the year's supplementary budget to put 12 patrol ships in constant operation by 2015. The situation is a perilous one, and an armed clash could occur at any time.

The conflict has spilled over into a diplomatic free-for-all with neighboring countries, and at the moment, Seoul is the site of some of the hottest maneuvering. On Jan. 4, Abe sent Fukushiro Nukaga, secretary-general for the Alliance of Korean-Japanese Lawmakers, as a special envoy to South Korean president-elect Park Geun-hye. Unwilling to be shown up, Xi sent a special envoy of his own on Jan. 10, vice minister of foreign affairs Zhang Zhijun.

The fact is that there is little good news about South Korea being so aggressively wooed by the two rivals. We must remember that the intensifying rivalry and conflict between Japan and China could have a negative effect on efforts to improve inter-Korean relations, as well as stability in the region. Both of these are key interests for South Korea.

In times like these, the best thing we can do is maintain neutrality according to manifest principles and standards while working to defuse tensions between the two countries. This year, Korea is the host of the three-nation summit between South Korea, China, and Japan. Bringing this to a successful conclusion will be an excellent opportunity to show off South Korea's talent for conflict mediation.

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]