China News Service, May 31. In the past two days, Japan and South Korea have "quarreled" again.

On May 29, the Japanese side claimed that the South Korean side was conducting a marine survey near the disputed islands between Japan and South Korea (called "Dokdo" by the South Korean side and "Take Island" by the Japanese side), and lodged a strong protest.

The South Korean side did not show weakness, and made it clear that the relevant activities were in line with international law, and the Japanese protest was "unacceptable".

Japan says a South Korean survey ship has been found in waters near islands disputed by Japan and South Korea.

Image source: Screenshot of the Japan Broadcasting Association (NHK) report

South Korean survey ship appears in disputed waters

The Japanese side shouted, the South Korean side ignored

　　The Japan Coast Guard said that its patrol vessels found a South Korean ship named "Hae Yang 2000" belonging to the National Institute of Oceanography of South Korea in "Japan's exclusive economic zone near Takeshima" on the 28th and 29th. The survey ship said it dropped something like a cable into the sea.

The Japanese side judges that the South Korean side is likely to conduct a marine survey.

　　At about 18:40 local time on the 29th, the Japanese patrol boat shouted over the radio, asking the South Korean vessel to immediately stop the investigation, on the grounds that the South Korean side's activities were not allowed by Japan.

The South Korean survey ship did not respond to the Japanese call.

　　The South Korean survey ship retracted its cables about an hour later and left the "exclusive economic zone" claimed by the Japanese side at around 22 o'clock, sources said.

　　Subsequently, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs asked the South Korean side for confirmation of this situation through diplomatic channels. The South Korean side made it clear that there was indeed a South Korean survey ship conducting marine surveys in the relevant waters at that time.

Data map: Japan and South Korea disputed islands (Japan called "Takeshima", South Korea called "Dokdo").

Japan: Strong protest

South Korea: Unacceptable

　　In this regard, Kenyu Funakoshi, director of Asia and Oceania of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expressed strong protest to the South Korean side on the 29th.

　　Funetsu said that the South Korean side conducted a maritime survey in the "Japan Exclusive Economic Zone" without Japan's consent, which violated the provisions of the United Nations.

　　The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs also revealed that since May 2017, the Japanese side has once again protested to the South Korean side regarding the marine survey in this area.

　　A South Korean foreign ministry official responded on the 30th that South Korea’s actions were in line with international laws such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and South Korea’s domestic regulations.

Data map: On the day of South Korea's "Dokdo Day", South Korea held a joint defense military exercise in the waters surrounding "Dokdo" (called "Takeshima" in Japan).

Japan and South Korea's disputed island sovereignty issue intensifies

　　The "Takeshima" called by Japan is an island group located in the eastern waters of the Korean Peninsula and east of Ulleungdo, and is called "Dokdo" by South Korea.

Since 1953, South Korea has actually controlled the island and administratively placed it under Ulleung County, North Gyeongsang Province.

　　All along, on the issue of sovereignty over the disputed islands, both Japan and South Korea have stated their respective positions without giving in.

　　Since the beginning of this year, the disputes between the two countries on this issue have intensified.

In January, the Japanese foreign minister stated that "Takeshima" was Japanese territory in his speech at the National Assembly; in March, more than 10 social textbooks approved by the Japanese government clearly stated "Takeshima" as "Japanese territory"; in April, Japan The Diplomatic Blue Book asserts that "Takeshima" belongs to Japan.

　　The South Korean side has strongly protested the series of actions by the Japanese side many times, saying that the Japanese side has repeatedly made improper territorial claims, which is not conducive to the building of future-oriented South Korea-Japan relations, and the South Korean side will respond firmly.