August,17,2012

Response to the Government’s Handling of the Landing of Hong Kong Activists on the Senkaku Islands

On August 15, anti-Japanese activists from Hong Kong intruded into Japanese territorial waters and unlawfully landed on Uotsuri Island, one of the Senkaku Islands. On August 17, the Japanese government closed the curtain on the incident by deporting the activists. The Japanese government gives priority to sorting out situations and, even though it was a response based on the law, its choice of deporting the activists was effectively the same as releasing them. Surrounding countries will likely look down on Japan as being “easy to win over.” There is a serious danger of this incident resulting in repeat occurrences of people intruding into Japanese territory and landing on the Senkaku Islands, and thus the Happiness Realization Party cannot accept the government’s handling of the matter.

What Japan needs in light of the recent string of unlawful actions on Japanese land and in Japanese waters, including the recent visit to Takeshima Island by President Lee Myung-bak of the Republic of Korea, is to show “national mettle” in order to protect the country’s sovereignty. In the recent case of the landing on the Senkaku Islands, the activists threw bricks at a patrol vessel of the Japan Coast Guard, and it seems that they could have been arrested on suspicion of obstructing the execution of official duties. The government should release the video footage taken by the Japan Coast Guard in order to reveal the truth to the public. Although this was a crime committed by private citizens, it is clear that a certain amount of responsibility lies with the Chinese government, and Japan should demand an apology and compensation.

As the Happiness Realization Party has stated in the past, now that it is obvious to everyone that Japan is facing a crisis with regard to invasions of its territorial land and territorial waters, the government must change its interpretation of Article 9 of the Constitution and reform its basic policy toward diplomacy and national security so that it is appropriate for the circumstances of today. In addition, Japan must make clear at home and abroad its strong determination to defend its territory as a nation by taking measures such as swiftly moving forward with the introduction of legislation to crack down on intrusions into territorial waters.

China is increasing its activities with regard to the Senkaku Islands in particular. In light of this, it is necessary to quickly strengthen effective administration of the islands by constructing facilities on them, and to relax restrictions on the use of weapons for guarding territorial waters in order to deter unlawful actions by surrounding countries and malicious unlawful intrusions. It is clear from looking at the recent incident that intrusions and landings cannot be prevented with verbal warnings, water cannons, and so forth. Furthermore, it is essential to build a system of national defense, including strengthening and heavily arming Japan Coast Guard patrol vessels and deploying troops of the Self-Defense Forces to the Sakishima Islands in order to protect the Senkaku Islands.

The fact that Japan cannot give a resolute response even as its national sovereignty continues to be violated demonstrates the lack of a sense of nationhood in the Democratic Party of Japan. The Liberal Democratic Party’s lenient diplomatic policies toward China in the past were what originally brought about the Senkaku Islands issues of today, and needless to say, the party lacks the political power to determine Japan’s future. As Japan faces dangers, the Happiness Realization Party intends to work to defend the national sovereignty and protect the lives, safety, and property of the people.

Shugaku Tsuiki
Party Leader
Happiness Realization Party