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Dokdo, known as Takeshima in Japan (internationally recognized as Liancourt), is a group of small islands situated between South Korea and Japan, approximately 220 km southeast of Japan's Honshu Island and east-southeast of the Korean Peninsula. Liancourt is currently in a territorial dispute between Japan and South Korea, with South Korea maintaining de facto control over the entire island group.
South Korea refers to the island group as Dokdo or Tokdo (독도/獨島, in Han-Vietnamese: Độc đảo), meaning 'Solitary Island,' while Japan calls the island Liancourt Takeshima (たけしま/竹島, in Han-Vietnamese: Trúc đảo).
Insights into Dokdo Island
The international name of Liancourt Island originates from Le Liancourt, the name of a French whaling ship that nearly sank in the underwater rocks of this island group in 1849. In English and according to some old maps, this island group was also referred to as Hornet Rocks (1855), while Russian maritime documents named it Manala and Olivutsa.
Dokdo/Takeshima lies within Japan's maritime exclusive economic zone, making it strategically significant for both Japan and South Korea. Additionally, the Liancourt area is abundant in fisheries resources and has the potential to store large amounts of natural gas deep underground.
Currently, the island is under the control of South Korea. Apart from the two South Korean residents who live on the island and engage in fishing, there are 37 South Korean police officers (독도경비대/獨島警備隊) stationed here for protection duties. Additionally, there are three officials from the South Korean Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries and three lighthouse keepers who rotate living on the island. In the past, some fishermen also temporarily resided on the island.
Origin and Formation
Dokdo Island is an archipelago formed by small rocky islands in the East Sea. The island was created by volcanic eruptions from a depth of 2000 meters below the sea, followed by solidification. In Japanese, Dokdo Island is called Takeshima or Trúc đảo. On international maps, Takeshima is named Liancourt Rocks, while South Korea refers to it as Dokdo Island – Solitary Island.
The Takeshima/Dokdo archipelago consists of two rocky islands, East Island and West Island, along with underwater caves and 89 other rock formations, such as candle-shaped rocks, elephant-shaped rocks, and caves resembling three brothers. When talking about Dokdo Island, one cannot overlook the Dokdo Shrimp, known as a delicacy here.
Who owns Dokdo Island?
During Japan's rule in 1905, Dokdo Island was under the administration of South Korea, but Japan still incorporated this area into Japanese territory. At the end of World War II, with the defeat of the Japanese fascists, the victorious countries decided to transfer this island to the Soviet Union.
In 1951, at the international conference in San Francisco, Japan officially renounced its rights to the islands in the South Kuril Islands chain, including Dokdo Island. On February 2, 1946, the former Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union incorporated these islands into the sovereign territory of the Soviet Union.
In 1952, Lee Sung Man, the first President of South Korea, established sovereignty over the Dokdo/Takeshima archipelago. The island is currently under the control of the South Korean government, based on the San Francisco Peace Treaty of 1951. Specifically, management rights belong to the South Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport and are recognized as Cultural Heritage No. 336 by the South Korean Cultural Heritage Administration in November 1982.
In recent years, Japan has demanded the return of these islands, claiming historical documents that suggest they were associated with the Japanese Empire during certain years. However, current international maritime law does not recognize such grounds when determining the sovereignty of a nation.
The Dokdo Island dispute between South Korea and Japan
Actions of the Japanese Government
On March 16, 2005, the government of Shimane Prefecture in Japan unexpectedly declared that Dokdo Takeshima, an island located in the eastern part of South Korea, belongs to Japan. They also announced that this date would be celebrated as 'Takeshima Day' annually to raise domestic awareness about this island.
The unilateral declaration by the Shimane Prefecture government to incorporate Dokdo Island into its territory officially ignited the sovereignty battle over Takeshima Island.
In 2008, Japan's new elementary school textbooks referred to the Takeshima/Dokdo archipelago as its sovereign territory and argued that South Korea had illegally occupied it, despite South Korea recalling its ambassador from Japan in protest. Japan also asserted in its high school textbooks that the Dokdo/Takeshima archipelago is Japan's inherent territory.
In 2014, Japan once again revised its textbooks, asserting that 'Dokdo is Japan's inseparable territory' and stating that it 'does not recognize any disputes over the Senkaku Islands.' Japanese textbooks claimed that China's sovereignty claim over the Senkakus is entirely unfounded.
Even when speaking to AFP, Education Minister Hakubun Shimomura affirmed: 'From an educational standpoint, a nation will certainly teach its children about its indivisible territories.'
Actions of the South Korean Government
Military Exercises on the Island
In 2019, South Korea conducted military exercises in the waters near the Dokdo Islands, known as Takeshima by Japan, to prepare for situations involving foreign vessels trespassing into its territorial waters, amid escalating diplomatic tensions with Japan.
These exercises typically last for 2 days and involve the participation of the Army, Navy, Air Force, along with numerous warships and combat aircraft. South Korea has been conducting these exercises since 1986, twice a year.
The Textbook Battle Response to the Japanese Government
As soon as the government asserted sovereignty over the Dokdo/Takeshima Islands, South Korea swiftly responded by implementing an additional curriculum about the Dokdo Islands, controlled by Seoul. This curriculum mandates that elementary and middle school students in South Korea must study about Dokdo for about 10 hours each academic year. Additionally, South Korean elementary school children entering first grade will learn to sing the song 'Dokdo is Our Land'.
Establishing the Dokdo Museum
The South Korean government swiftly built the Dokdo Museum as a repository for documents, texts, and videos about the history and resources of this island's evolution. The museum also serves to organize meetings and training sessions on the movement to preserve South Korea's sovereignty over Dokdo Island.
Presenting Gifts Featuring Dokdo Island to Embassies
The Office of the President of South Korea sent gift boxes containing traditional liquor and various other items to foreign embassies in Seoul to celebrate the Lunar New Year 2022. The gift boxes feature illustrations resembling Dokdo Island, which South Korea controls, but Japan also claims sovereignty over and calls Takeshima Island.
Depicting a sunrise, symbolizing South Korea's commitment to combatting the Covid-19 pandemic and starting anew in the new year. However, the sun also alludes to Dokdo/Takeshima Island – where Koreans can witness the first sunrise.
The Japanese Embassy returned the gift, immediately lodging a protest and reiterating Japan's sovereignty claim over this island.
24/7 Television Broadcast on Dokdo Island
The national television station KBS, under the management of the South Korean government, has dedicated a channel exclusively for live broadcasts from Dokdo Takeshima Island. Any citizen can access this broadcast channel online whenever needed.
South Korea has invested heavily in promoting the ideology and raising awareness of its sovereignty over Dokdo Island. It is known that there are more than 1400 locations across South Korea where the government has installed 55-inch TV screens solely to broadcast live images of Dokdo Island, airing continuously 365 days a year. Most state agencies in South Korea, such as KBS and the Ministry of Education, have these 55-inch TV screens.
In particular, the installation and maintenance costs of this special television channel exceed 750 million KRW (approximately 15 billion VND/year). This is also considered the longest-running live broadcast channel (with no end in sight).
Promoting Eco-Tourism on Dokdo Island
The South Korean government began allowing tourists to visit Dokdo Island in 2015, and this destination quickly became one of the top 10 representative eco-tourism spots in South Korea. Dokdo is known for its dynamic marine environment and frequent strong winds. There are only about 60-70 safe boating days to travel to the island in a year. It's recommended to visit Dokdo from June to October. Besides enjoying the natural scenery, visitors have the opportunity to taste the local specialty, Dokdo shrimp.
Why Does the Japanese Government Dispute Dokdo Island?
The likelihood of the Russian government and the Korean government agreeing to Japan's demands and returning the islands to the Tang Empire is almost zero. Perhaps the Japanese leadership also understands this, yet they continue to organize events and educate the younger generation through curriculum reforms regarding Dokdo Takeshima?
Many believe that if Japan does not support the nationalist sentiments of the people, it will lose significant voter approval in elections. Secondly, by proclaiming to reclaim lost territory, it helps divert attention away from serious domestic issues such as culture, economy, and the environment. Many disputes have erupted, and resolution remains elusive.
The diplomatic relations between South Korea and Japan are increasingly strained due to disagreements over Dokdo Island. What's particularly remarkable is that both countries remain important trading partners. Students and tourists can freely travel between the two countries without encountering any difficulties or barriers!
Published by: Phuong Dang
Keywords: Revealing fascinating truths about Dokdo Island
