HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK ---------------------------
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/04/10/1018333372093.html The Age (Australia) Japanese textbook riles South Korea By Shane Green Tokyo April 11 2002 -The group said the textbook described the Asian Pacific war as the Greater East Asian War, denying it was a war of aggression. Japan has again angered South Korea over its approval of a textbook for Japanese high schools, in a setback to relations between the two countries just before they jointly host soccer's World Cup. Japanese education authorities this week approved a textbook that asserts Tokyo's sovereignty over islets claimed and occupied by South Korea. The book also makes no mention of the "comfort women", who were mainly from Korea, forced into sexual slavery for Japanese soldiers at the front line during World War II. The latest controversy follows last year's falling-out between the two countries after Tokyo approved some textbooks that justified Japan's aggression in the war. Relations hit their lowest point in many years. This time, the claiming of Japanese sovereignty over islets called Dokdo by the South Koreans has upset Seoul the most. South Korea keeps a small contingent of police on Dokdo, which is called Takeshima by the Japanese. advertisement advertisement South Korea's Foreign Ministry this week summoned a senior diplomat from the Japanese embassy in Seoul to register a formal complaint, claiming the textbook distorted history. "We reaffirmed our unswerving position that Dokdo is our territory given authoritative historical evidence, geographical facts and international law," said Choo Kyu-ho, a Foreign Ministry official. The islets - small, volcanic outcrops - are in the middle of the stretch of sea that divides the Korean peninsula and Japan. In South Korea, the sea is known as the East Sea, while in Japan it is called the Japan Sea. The lodging of the protest comes just before the two countries co-host the World Cup, beginning in Seoul on May 31. The event is being regarded as a chance to overcome the deep divisions between Seoul and Tokyo stemming from Japan's colonisation of the Korean peninsula between 1910 and 1945. Apparently eager to accommodate South Korea's views, Japanese education authorities made some changes, requesting the authors of the textbook, The Saishinnihonsi, or "newest history of Japan", to remove a derogatory reference to Korea's Chosen dynasty. With final preparations being made for the World Cup, the critical factor will be how far South Korea is prepared to take its protests. After last year's dispute over textbooks, Japan and South Korea decided to establish a joint history panel, which is scheduled to hold its first meeting next Monday. An earlier edition of the same textbook created a rift between Japan and its neighbours in 1986, when its authors were accused of whitewashing Japan's wartime history. The latest edition has also provoked criticism by a Japanese citizens' group, the Children and Textbooks Japan Network 21, which said the book tried to "embellish Japan's war of aggression". "The textbook views China and South Korea as enemies in order to justify (Japan's) war of aggression," the group's secretary-general, Yoshifumi Tawara, said. "It is a textbook that will bring up children who make no friends with Asian nations or people." The group said the textbook described the Asian Pacific war as the Greater East Asian War, denying it was a war of aggression. "It is hardly suitable as a textbook for high school students because it ignores history research," Mr Tawara said. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Tax Center - online filing with TurboTax http://taxes.yahoo.com/ --------------------------- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [email protected] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9617B Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
