2010 Senkaku boat collision incident
Encyclopedia
The 2010 Senkaku
Boat Collision Incident (or the Minjinyu 5179 Incident) occurred on the morning of September 7 2010 when a Chinese trawler, Minjinyu 5179, operating in disputed waters collided with Japanese Coast Guard's patrol boat
s near the Senkaku Islands
. There were several Japanese Coast Guard (often abbreviated JCG) boats involved, including Yonakuni and Mizuki, which collided with Minjinyu 5179, plus Hateruma and other JCG boats.
The collision and Japan's subsequent detention of the skipper (Zhan Qixiong) resulted in a major diplomatic dispute between China
and Japan
. When China's repeated demands for the release of the skipper were refused and the detention of the skipper extended for a further 10 days, the Chinese government cancelled official meetings of ministrial level and above. Though denied by the Chinese Government, it was reported that China halted exports of rare earth minerals to Japan.
The detained Chinese crew members were released without charge and were allowed to return home. In China the overall event is perceived as a diplomatic victory, while in Japan the Japanese government's "weak-kneed" handling of the issue was criticized.
and claimed by both the People's Republic of China
and the Republic of China
. In 2008 a sports fishing boat from Taiwan
Lien Ho was rammed and sunk by JCG patrol ships and resulted in an official apology and monetary compensation of NT$10 millions paid by Japan. Multiple events involving JCG and fishing boats from nearby Chinese provinces and Taiwan were involved since 1972.
) on September 7, 2010. Mizuki ordered Minjinyu 5179 to stop for inspection since Minjinyu 5179 was traveling 12 km (7.5 mi) north-west of the Senkaku Islands, which is within the Japanese-claimed territorial waters. Minjinyu 5179 refused the order and attempted to flee from the scene. During the chase and interception, Minjinyu 5179 collided with JCG's patrol vessels. On September 8, 2010, JCG boarded the Chinese trawler and arrested its captain for obstruction of performance of public duty and illegal fishing. The trawler, the captain, and 14 crew members, were transported to Ishigaki Island of Japan for detention. An investigator told the press that he smelt alcohol on the arrested captain but apparently no alcohol test results were ever released.
In response to the arrest, the Chinese government made a series of diplomatic protests, demanding the immediate release of the trawler and all its crew. China summoned Uichiro Niwa, the Japanese ambassador to China in Beijing, six times, each time with an official of higher diplomatic rank, on one occasion after midnight. The trawler and 14 of the crew members (but not the captain, Zhan) were released after the sixth summons on September 13, 2010. The captain of the trawler remained in Japanese detention and was finally released on September 24, 2010.
repeatedly asserted this standpoint.
The government decided to set aside 53.3 billion yen for the following measures to reduce dependence on Chinese mineral resources:
s, called in Japan. Japanese companies proactively invest into rare earth mining in countries other than China. Examples include Sumitomo Corporation
and Toshiba
in Kazakhstan
, Marubeni
in South Africa
, Sojitz
and Toyota Tsusho
in Vietnam
, Sojitsu in Australia
, and Sumitomo in the United States
.
Many companies have shifted the focus of investment away from China to India
(the top recipient of Japanese investment) and the ASEAN nations.
On November 6, an anti-Chinese demonstration was held in Hibiya Park
.
Hillary Rodham Clinton
told Japanese Foreign Minister
Seiji Maehara
that Senkaku and nearby waters are covered by the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the United States and Japan
which obligates the United States to defend Japanese territory from third-party countries, and maintained USA does not have a position regarding the sovereignty of the islands. At the press conference held on the same day, United States Secretary of Defense
Robert Gates
spoke regarding the dispute that in the event of military conflict on the Senkaku islands, "Washington would honor its military commitment to intervene". When a reporter posed the same question, to clarify an earlier Kyodo report that "US changed its position", similar statements were said during a US State Department Press Conference a month ago on August 16, 2010, "The U.S. position on this issue is longstanding and has not changed. The United States does not take a position on the question of the ultimate sovereignty of the Senkaku Islands. We expect the claimants to resolve this issue through peaceful means among themselves. But Article 5 of the 1960 U.S.-Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security states that the treaty applies to the territories under the administration of Japan. There's no change. That (Kyodo) report is incorrect."
At the press conference on September 23, 2010, United States
Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs
Philip J. Crowley
stated in response to a question whether Senkaku islands are covered by the security treat that "We do believe that because the Senkaku Islands are under Japanese jurisdiction, that it is covered by the U.S.-Japan security treaty. That said, we also stress that we don't take a position on the sovereignty of the Senkaku Islands, but recognize current Japanese jurisdiction stemming back to the reversion of Okinawa to Japan."
was leaked on YouTube
, and authorities later confirmed authenticity of the video clips. The leaked clips totaled 44 minutes, but were taken down about ten hours later with the original poster sengoku38's account deleted. However, the original video is said to run more than two hours. This is supported by the fact that in some of the videos other crew members were also holding video cameras doing recordings.
It was later revealed that the leak was done by a Japan Coast Guard Navigator from the Kobe
Coast Guard Office, . He first sent a SD memory card with a copy of the footage of the incident to the offices of CNN
in Japan, then when CNN did not post the contents of the memory card he uploaded the video to YouTube.
government's claim/fear that releasing the video might upset China, the Chinese government does not seem to mind the leak, stating that "The so-called video can neither change the facts nor cover up Japan's crime.". A few hours later, China Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Hong Lei said, "I would like to reiterate that the Japanese patrol boats had disturbed, driven away, intercepted and surrounded the Chinese fishing boat, which led to the collision."
Meanwhile both Japanese civilians and Chinese civilians and media in mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan welcomed the leak citing their right to know. Each group viewed the content of the video as presenting evidence favorable to their own cause in the dispute. Japanese claim the videos show Minjinyu 5179 rammed into JCG boats Yonakuni and Mizuki. Chinese claim that the two JCG boats cut in front of the Chinese trawler abruptly and are equally responsible for the collision, citing the much smaller size and slower speed of the Minjinyu 5179 and the wake of the JCG boats left in front of Minjinyu 5179.
Although YouTube is blocked inside mainland China
, the videos were quickly reproduced on many Chinese websites.
, since returning to China government authorities have confined Zhan Qixiong to his home. An Asahi reporter who attempted to interview Qiziong at his home in Jinjiang on 5 September 2011 was turned away by Chinese police. Local residents confirmed to the reporter that Qiziong was living at the residence but was not allowed to leave except in rare instances. Two holes in the bow of Minjinyu 5179, apparently caused by the collisions, have been repaired since the boat returned to China, but the boat has not been on any further fishing expeditions. Local Jinjiang fishermen told the Asahi reporter that they have mainly stayed away from the Senkaku Islands since the incident, but would go back, "as long as there were fish in the area."
Senkaku Islands
The , also known as the Diaoyu Islands or Diaoyutai Islands or the Pinnacle Islands, are a group of disputed uninhabited islands in the East China Sea...
Boat Collision Incident (or the Minjinyu 5179 Incident) occurred on the morning of September 7 2010 when a Chinese trawler, Minjinyu 5179, operating in disputed waters collided with Japanese Coast Guard's patrol boat
Patrol boat
A patrol boat is a relatively small naval vessel generally designed for coastal defense duties.There have been many designs for patrol boats. They may be operated by a nation's navy, coast guard, or police force, and may be intended for marine and/or estuarine or river environments...
s near the Senkaku Islands
Senkaku Islands
The , also known as the Diaoyu Islands or Diaoyutai Islands or the Pinnacle Islands, are a group of disputed uninhabited islands in the East China Sea...
. There were several Japanese Coast Guard (often abbreviated JCG) boats involved, including Yonakuni and Mizuki, which collided with Minjinyu 5179, plus Hateruma and other JCG boats.
The collision and Japan's subsequent detention of the skipper (Zhan Qixiong) resulted in a major diplomatic dispute between China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. When China's repeated demands for the release of the skipper were refused and the detention of the skipper extended for a further 10 days, the Chinese government cancelled official meetings of ministrial level and above. Though denied by the Chinese Government, it was reported that China halted exports of rare earth minerals to Japan.
The detained Chinese crew members were released without charge and were allowed to return home. In China the overall event is perceived as a diplomatic victory, while in Japan the Japanese government's "weak-kneed" handling of the issue was criticized.
Background
The Senkaku islands are administered by JapanJapan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and claimed by both the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
and the Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
. In 2008 a sports fishing boat from Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
Lien Ho was rammed and sunk by JCG patrol ships and resulted in an official apology and monetary compensation of NT$10 millions paid by Japan. Multiple events involving JCG and fishing boats from nearby Chinese provinces and Taiwan were involved since 1972.
Details of the incident
According to JCG, the patrol boat Mizuki of the 11th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters encountered Minjinyu 5179 at about 10:15 (JSTJapan Standard Time
Japan Standard Time or JST is the standard timezone of Japan, and is 9 hours ahead of UTC. For example, when it is midnight in UTC, it is 09:00 in Japan Standard Time. There is no daylight saving time, though its introduction has been debated several times. Japan Standard Time is the same as...
) on September 7, 2010. Mizuki ordered Minjinyu 5179 to stop for inspection since Minjinyu 5179 was traveling 12 km (7.5 mi) north-west of the Senkaku Islands, which is within the Japanese-claimed territorial waters. Minjinyu 5179 refused the order and attempted to flee from the scene. During the chase and interception, Minjinyu 5179 collided with JCG's patrol vessels. On September 8, 2010, JCG boarded the Chinese trawler and arrested its captain for obstruction of performance of public duty and illegal fishing. The trawler, the captain, and 14 crew members, were transported to Ishigaki Island of Japan for detention. An investigator told the press that he smelt alcohol on the arrested captain but apparently no alcohol test results were ever released.
In response to the arrest, the Chinese government made a series of diplomatic protests, demanding the immediate release of the trawler and all its crew. China summoned Uichiro Niwa, the Japanese ambassador to China in Beijing, six times, each time with an official of higher diplomatic rank, on one occasion after midnight. The trawler and 14 of the crew members (but not the captain, Zhan) were released after the sixth summons on September 13, 2010. The captain of the trawler remained in Japanese detention and was finally released on September 24, 2010.
Chronology of events
- September 7, 2010: A Chinese fishing trawler collided with two Japanese Coast Guard patrol boats in disputed waters near the islands. The collisions occurred around 10am, after the Japanese Coast Guard ordered the trawler to leave the area. After the collisions, Japanese sailors boarded the Chinese vessel and arrested the captain, Zhan Qixiong.
- September 8: Chinese embassy staff member met with Zhan Qixiong.
- September 9: The Ishigaki Maritime Safety Agency charges Zhan Qixiong with interference with a public servant in the execution of his or her duties and sent him to the Ishigaki branch of the District Public Prosecutor's Office in Naha.
- September 10: The Ishigaki branch of the District Public Prosecutor's Office in Naha extends captain Zhan Qixiong's detention.
- September 13: The trawler and 14 crew members were released and returned to China. The captain Zhan Qixiong remained detained in Naha.
- September 16: Seiji MaeharaSeiji Maeharais a Japanese politician who has been a member of the House of Representatives of Japan since 1993. He was the leader of the Democratic Party of Japan from 2005 to 2006, and later served as Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and Minister of Foreign Affairs under the cabinets...
, the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, goes to Ishigaki Maritime Safety Agency and inspects the patrol ship's mooring. - September 19: The summary court of Ishigaki extends captain Zhan Qixiong's detention term by 10 days, from 9/20 to 9/29.
- September 20: China detained 4 Japanese employees of Fujita CorporationFujita (company)Fujita was the name of a Japanese zaibatsu based in Osaka. Its founder is Densaburo Fujita. He built the foundation of Fujita zaibatsu by producing military goods during Satsuma Rebellion and rapidly expanded his business to construction, mining and other businesses.Many of its luxurious...
for allegedly filming military targets. - September 22: Chinese premier Wen JiabaoWen JiabaoWen Jiabao is the sixth and current Premier and Party secretary of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, serving as China's head of government and leading its cabinet. In his capacity as Premier, Wen is regarded as the leading figure behind China's economic policy...
threatened further action if the captain of the Chinese fishing trawler was not released. - September 24: Japan released the Chinese captain, stating that keeping the captain in custody would not be appropriate and was having a considerable impact on Sino-Japan relations.
- September 25: China demanded an apology and compensation from Japan for holding the Chinese boat captain. Japan rejected this demand.
- September 27: Japan said it would counter-claim against China for damage to its patrol boats in the collision.
- October 6: Joint USA/Japan drill is planned on defending Okinawa in December but Japanese Prime Minister Kan Naoto told the parliament that the joint military exercise does not have the islands specifically in mind.
- October 9: All of the Fujita employees were released by China.
- November 4: Leaked video footage of the collision appeared on YouTube, (uploaded by former user sengoku38).
- November 9: Supreme Public Prosecutor's Office of Japan launched an investigation against Google.
- November 15: Japanese police and prosecutors announced that they would not arrest anyone for the YouTube incident.
Response in Japan
Government
The Japanese government claims that there is no territorial dispute over the Senkaku islands. On September 14, 2010, then-Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Seiji MaeharaSeiji Maehara
is a Japanese politician who has been a member of the House of Representatives of Japan since 1993. He was the leader of the Democratic Party of Japan from 2005 to 2006, and later served as Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and Minister of Foreign Affairs under the cabinets...
repeatedly asserted this standpoint.
The government decided to set aside 53.3 billion yen for the following measures to reduce dependence on Chinese mineral resources:
- Development of rare earth minerals abroad 19.7
- Recycling, urban mining and developing alternative technology by the government and the private sector 1.6
- Developing offshore oil and gas in Japan 16.3
- Pre-feasibility study on methane hydrate deposits 8.9
- Study on cobalt rich crust and other undersea reserves 6.8 (Cobalt rich crusts are undersea mineral deposits that contain manganeseManganeseManganese is a chemical element, designated by the symbol Mn. It has the atomic number 25. It is found as a free element in nature , and in many minerals...
, cobaltCobaltCobalt is a chemical element with symbol Co and atomic number 27. It is found naturally only in chemically combined form. The free element, produced by reductive smelting, is a hard, lustrous, silver-gray metal....
, nickelNickelNickel is a chemical element with the chemical symbol Ni and atomic number 28. It is a silvery-white lustrous metal with a slight golden tinge. Nickel belongs to the transition metals and is hard and ductile...
and platinumPlatinumPlatinum is a chemical element with the chemical symbol Pt and an atomic number of 78. Its name is derived from the Spanish term platina del Pinto, which is literally translated into "little silver of the Pinto River." It is a dense, malleable, ductile, precious, gray-white transition metal...
, as well as rare earths such as neodymiumNeodymiumNeodymium is a chemical element with the symbol Nd and atomic number 60. It is a soft silvery metal that tarnishes in air. Neodymium was discovered in 1885 by the Austrian chemist Carl Auer von Welsbach. It is present in significant quantities in the ore minerals monazite and bastnäsite...
and dysprosiumDysprosiumDysprosium is a chemical element with the symbol Dy and atomic number 66. It is a rare earth element with a metallic silver luster. Dysprosium is never found in nature as a free element, though it is found in various minerals, such as xenotime...
.)
Business
The business community thinks that this incident has exposed China's country riskCountry risk
Country risk refers to the risk of investing in a country, dependent on changes in the business environment that may adversely affect operating profits or the value of assets in a specific country...
s, called in Japan. Japanese companies proactively invest into rare earth mining in countries other than China. Examples include Sumitomo Corporation
Sumitomo Corporation
Sumitomo Corporation is one of the largest worldwide trading company , and is a diversified corporation. Sumitomo is headquartered in the Harumi Island Triton Square Office Tower Y in Chūō, Tokyo, Japan...
and Toshiba
Toshiba
is a multinational electronics and electrical equipment corporation headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. It is a diversified manufacturer and marketer of electrical products, spanning information & communications equipment and systems, Internet-based solutions and services, electronic components and...
in Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
, Marubeni
Marubeni
is a Japanese trading company, one of the largest general trading companies in Japan.-Offices:*Head Office - 4-2, Otemachi 1-chome, Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan*Head Office -20-6, Shiba 5-chome, Minato, Tokyo, Japan...
in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, Sojitz
Sojitz
is a trading corporation based in Tokyo, Japan. It operates in many industries, including construction, forestry, plastics, chemicals, mining, petroleum, textiles, and international trade. Sojitz also participates in joint ventures with foreign companies in Japan....
and Toyota Tsusho
Toyota Tsusho
Toyota Tsusho Corporation , , based in Nagoya and Tokyo, is a sōgō shōsha , a member of the Toyota Group. It is one of the largest trading companies in Japan, and the 6th largest in the world...
in Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
, Sojitsu in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, and Sumitomo in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Many companies have shifted the focus of investment away from China to India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
(the top recipient of Japanese investment) and the ASEAN nations.
Protests
On October 2, 2010, Large scale anti-Chinese protests occurred in Tokyo and six other cities in Japan.On November 6, an anti-Chinese demonstration was held in Hibiya Park
Hibiya Park
is a park in Chiyoda City, Tokyo, Japan. It covers an area of 161,636.66m2 between the east gardens of the Imperial Palace to the north, the Shinbashi district to the southeast and the Kasumigaseki government district to the west....
.
Beijing
- September 8, 2010, Mainland Chinese non-governmental fisherman groups took the streets of BeijingBeijingBeijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
(北京) in protest, including a major protest outside the Japanese embassy. Chinese patriotism and anti-Japanese sentiment were evident amongst protestors who waved Chinese flagsFlag of the People's Republic of ChinaThe flag of the People's Republic of China is a red field charged in the canton with five golden stars. The design features one large star, with four smaller stars in a semicircle set off towards the fly...
and sang the national anthem while holding placards demanding that the Japanese withdraw from the islands. A letter of protest was left with Japanese embassy staff along with an ancient Chinese styled copper sheet (青铜挂/青銅挂) used to send off a dead person's spirit (送终/送終), as a death wish.
- On September 18, dozens of individuals wearing the increasing popular "Oppose Japan" (反日) shirts held a protest around the Japanese embassy, demanding Japanese withdrawal from the islands and waving maps of China that included the islands as Chinese territories and chanted 'China forever' (lit. "China ten thousand years"/中国万岁/中國萬歲). The protesters posed a much larger danger to the embassy and local police were reinforced to 2-3 times the previous levels. Requests by the police, who were in riot gear, for the protesters to depart were largely unheeded. The embassy instead locked down and police closed off neighbouring streets to limit the increase of protesters and the possibility of chaos.
Tianjin
- On September 12, 2010 a Japanese private school in TianjinTianjin' is a metropolis in northern China and one of the five national central cities of the People's Republic of China. It is governed as a direct-controlled municipality, one of four such designations, and is, thus, under direct administration of the central government...
(天津), China, was slightly vandalised prompting police to increase police presence in Japanese schools, as well as cultural facilities, throughout China. Schools in Tianjin and Beijing (two neighbouring cities) were suspended until September 18.
Shanghai
- Protests lasted for much of the period September 8–18, 2010 outside the Japanese consulate in Shanghai (上海), several signed petitions and letters of protest were submitted to consulate staff.
Other places in Mainland China
- Notable protests took place throughout the rest of China requiring extra police deployment and provisional security measures around Japanese businesses or cultural centres. Additionally, due to the large participation in protests by high school and university student, most schools arranged for extra mandatory Saturday lessons to ensure students were not on the streets protesting. Cities with protesters in excess of 3000 and as high as 10,000 included: Chongqing (重庆/重慶), Shenyang (沈阳/沈陽), Changsha (长沙/長沙), Xi'an (西安), Zhengzhou (郑州/鄭州), Wuhan (武汉/武漢), Fujian (福建), Mianyang (绵阳/綿陽) and Deyang (德阳/德陽).
Hong Kong
- September 13, 2010, Hong KongHong KongHong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
fishermen protest outside of the Japanese consulate to China in CentralCentral, Hong KongCentral is the central business district of Hong Kong. It is located in Central and Western District, on the north shore of Hong Kong Island, across Victoria Harbour from Tsim Sha Tsui, the southernmost point of Kowloon Peninsula...
, Hong Kong. Protestors burned Japanese flags and chanted slogans, particularly Japan get out of Diaoyu Islands! (日本滚出钓鱼岛!). In a more official manner representatives from Hong Kong's political parties spoke to consulate officials requesting a swift release of the detained fishermen. - On September 18, the consulate was once again surrounded and protesters wished to pass a notice of protest, however as it was a Saturday, the majority of the consular staff were not present and so the protesters did not receive a response. The protesters then turned to burning the objects in protest. In the northern Sha TinSha TinSha Tin, also spelled Shatin, is an area around the Shing Mun River in the New Territories of Hong Kong. Administratively, it is part of the Sha Tin District.-Geography:...
district citizens gathered and burned Japanese flags and products too.
Response in Taiwan
On September 14, 2010, a rally was held in front of the Japanese Interchange Association in Taipei. The protesters threw fish and burned Japanese flags to voice their anger.United States
On September 23, 2010, United States Secretary of StateUnited States Secretary of State
The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence...
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton is the 67th United States Secretary of State, serving in the administration of President Barack Obama. She was a United States Senator for New York from 2001 to 2009. As the wife of the 42nd President of the United States, Bill Clinton, she was the First Lady of the...
told Japanese Foreign Minister
Minister for Foreign Affairs (Japan)
The of Japan is the Cabinet member responsible for Japanese foreign policy and the chief executive of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.Since the end of the American occupation of Japan, the position has been one of the most powerful in the Cabinet, as Japan's economic interests have long relied on...
Seiji Maehara
Seiji Maehara
is a Japanese politician who has been a member of the House of Representatives of Japan since 1993. He was the leader of the Democratic Party of Japan from 2005 to 2006, and later served as Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and Minister of Foreign Affairs under the cabinets...
that Senkaku and nearby waters are covered by the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the United States and Japan
Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the United States and Japan
The was signed between the United States and Japan in Washington, D.C. on January 19, 1960. It strengthened Japan's ties to the West during the Cold War era...
which obligates the United States to defend Japanese territory from third-party countries, and maintained USA does not have a position regarding the sovereignty of the islands. At the press conference held on the same day, United States Secretary of Defense
United States Secretary of Defense
The Secretary of Defense is the head and chief executive officer of the Department of Defense of the United States of America. This position corresponds to what is generally known as a Defense Minister in other countries...
Robert Gates
Robert Gates
Dr. Robert Michael Gates is a retired civil servant and university president who served as the 22nd United States Secretary of Defense from 2006 to 2011. Prior to this, Gates served for 26 years in the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Council, and under President George H. W....
spoke regarding the dispute that in the event of military conflict on the Senkaku islands, "Washington would honor its military commitment to intervene". When a reporter posed the same question, to clarify an earlier Kyodo report that "US changed its position", similar statements were said during a US State Department Press Conference a month ago on August 16, 2010, "The U.S. position on this issue is longstanding and has not changed. The United States does not take a position on the question of the ultimate sovereignty of the Senkaku Islands. We expect the claimants to resolve this issue through peaceful means among themselves. But Article 5 of the 1960 U.S.-Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security states that the treaty applies to the territories under the administration of Japan. There's no change. That (Kyodo) report is incorrect."
At the press conference on September 23, 2010, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs
Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs
The Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs is the head of the Bureau of Public Affairs within the United States Department of State. Typically, the Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs is also the official spokesperson of the State Department...
Philip J. Crowley
Philip J. Crowley
Philip J. “P.J.” Crowley is the former United States Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs, having been sworn into office on May 26, 2009. He resigned on March 13, 2011, following comments he made about the treatment of Bradley Manning. Crowley was named the 2011-2012 recipient of the...
stated in response to a question whether Senkaku islands are covered by the security treat that "We do believe that because the Senkaku Islands are under Japanese jurisdiction, that it is covered by the U.S.-Japan security treaty. That said, we also stress that we don't take a position on the sovereignty of the Senkaku Islands, but recognize current Japanese jurisdiction stemming back to the reversion of Okinawa to Japan."
Video of incident
Internal circulation
The Japanese government was unwilling to release the videos, originally stating that the videos may constitute evidence in a future court case. Trying to avoid further provoking China was another reason cited for not releasing the videos. Upon repeated demands from legislators in the Diet from some members of various parties (DPJ and LDP included), a viewing was finally arranged on November 1, 2010. During the viewing, only an edited version of 6'50" duration was seen.The leak
On November 4, 2010, video footage of the collisions taken by the Japan Coast GuardJapan Coast Guard
The , formerly the Maritime Safety Agency, is the Japanese coast guard. Comprising about 12,000 personnel, it is under the oversight of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and is responsible for the protection the coast-lines of Japan...
was leaked on YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
, and authorities later confirmed authenticity of the video clips. The leaked clips totaled 44 minutes, but were taken down about ten hours later with the original poster sengoku38's account deleted. However, the original video is said to run more than two hours. This is supported by the fact that in some of the videos other crew members were also holding video cameras doing recordings.
It was later revealed that the leak was done by a Japan Coast Guard Navigator from the Kobe
Kobe
, pronounced , is the fifth-largest city in Japan and is the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture on the southern side of the main island of Honshū, approximately west of Osaka...
Coast Guard Office, . He first sent a SD memory card with a copy of the footage of the incident to the offices of CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
in Japan, then when CNN did not post the contents of the memory card he uploaded the video to YouTube.
Reactions to the leak and the video clips
The Japanese government views the leak as a breach of confidentiality and security. Contrary to Naoto KanNaoto Kan
is a Japanese politician, and former Prime Minister of Japan. In June 2010, then-Finance Minister Kan was elected as the leader of the Democratic Party of Japan and designated Prime Minister by the Diet to succeed Yukio Hatoyama. On 26 August 2011, Kan announced his resignation...
government's claim/fear that releasing the video might upset China, the Chinese government does not seem to mind the leak, stating that "The so-called video can neither change the facts nor cover up Japan's crime.". A few hours later, China Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Hong Lei said, "I would like to reiterate that the Japanese patrol boats had disturbed, driven away, intercepted and surrounded the Chinese fishing boat, which led to the collision."
Meanwhile both Japanese civilians and Chinese civilians and media in mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan welcomed the leak citing their right to know. Each group viewed the content of the video as presenting evidence favorable to their own cause in the dispute. Japanese claim the videos show Minjinyu 5179 rammed into JCG boats Yonakuni and Mizuki. Chinese claim that the two JCG boats cut in front of the Chinese trawler abruptly and are equally responsible for the collision, citing the much smaller size and slower speed of the Minjinyu 5179 and the wake of the JCG boats left in front of Minjinyu 5179.
Although YouTube is blocked inside mainland China
Mainland China
Mainland China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term that refers to the area under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China . According to the Taipei-based Mainland Affairs Council, the term excludes the PRC Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and...
, the videos were quickly reproduced on many Chinese websites.
Links to the leaked video clips
| Original Posted Name | Duration of clip | Taken by | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 本当の尖閣 海上保安庁1 | 7'30" | Yonakuni, a Hateruma class patrol vessel Hateruma class patrol vessel Hateruma class patrol vessel is a class of PL type patrol vessels of the Japan Coast Guard. PL stands for "Patrol vessel Large", and the class name "Hateruma" is named after Hateruma-jima, the southernmost inhabited island of Japan.... |
|
| 尖閣の真実 海上保安庁2 | 8'9" | JCG tried to order Minjinyu to stop | |
| 尖閣侵略の真実 海上保安庁3 | 11'21" | ||
| 本当の尖閣 海上保安庁4 | 11'24" | first collision with Yonakuni | |
| 日本の尖閣 海上保安庁5 | 3'33" | Mizuki, a Bizan class patrol vessel | second collision with Mizuki |
| どうなる尖閣 海上保安庁6 | 2'29" | Hateruma, a Hateruma class patrol vessel | second collision with Mizuki, viewed by afar |
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Aftermath
According to the Asahi ShimbunAsahi Shimbun
The is the second most circulated out of the five national newspapers in Japan. Its circulation, which was 7.96 million for its morning edition and 3.1 million for its evening edition as of June 2010, was second behind that of Yomiuri Shimbun...
, since returning to China government authorities have confined Zhan Qixiong to his home. An Asahi reporter who attempted to interview Qiziong at his home in Jinjiang on 5 September 2011 was turned away by Chinese police. Local residents confirmed to the reporter that Qiziong was living at the residence but was not allowed to leave except in rare instances. Two holes in the bow of Minjinyu 5179, apparently caused by the collisions, have been repaired since the boat returned to China, but the boat has not been on any further fishing expeditions. Local Jinjiang fishermen told the Asahi reporter that they have mainly stayed away from the Senkaku Islands since the incident, but would go back, "as long as there were fish in the area."
External links
- Disputed Claims in the East China Sea, Q&A about the collision and the following regional disputes (July 2011)