Sara Garcia Fernández Historical perspectives on the Present of the Asia-Pacific Region 28/XI/19

Territorial Dispute. Sovereignty over the Liancourt Islands seen through

International Relations: Dokdo (독도) or Takeshima(竹島)?
1. INTRODUCTION: QUESTIONS & CONTENTS
o Is nationalism the main reason why the Liancourt Islands are disputed?
o Could the territorial dispute of Liancourt be analyzed through the IR theories?

2. TERRITORIAL DISPUTE: LIANCOURT ISLANDS & LOCATION

 Korea: “Dokdo” (Korean: 독도; Hanja: 獨島).
 Japan: “Takeshima” (竹島).
 Economical value < Ecological value.

3. THEORICAL FRAMEWORK: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS THEORIES

 What is sovereignty?
 International Relations: conflict or cooperation?
 Realism.
 Liberalism.
 Constructivism.

4. CURRENT SITUATION & FUTURE

 Protests and demonstrations.
 Tense diplomatic relations.
 A growing Korean and Japanese anti-feeling.
 What will happen in the future?

5. HISTORICAL CONTEXT
 1900: Chosun government (Korea)  boundaries of Ulleung County.
 Japanese colonization of Korea (1905/1910 – 1945):
- 1905: Korea became a Japanese protectorate through the Eulsa Treaty + Japan
incorporated the islets  part of Shimane Prefecture.
- 1910: Korea was annexed by the Treaty of Annexation.
- 1945: Japan’s defeat in WW2 = ending 35 years of Japanese occupation.
 Since 1950 Islands are administered by the Republic of Korea.
 1952: Origin of the dispute.
 1965: Japan and South Korea normalized relations.  Treaty on Basic Relations
 1900s: UN Convention on the Law of the Sea = Tensions.
 2000s-2019: It remains a problem.

6. CONCLUSIONS
 Common strategic interests  should build a good bilateral relation.
 Historical prejudices, nationalism and symbolic values.  thoughts, ideas, etc.
(constructivism)
 Increase of Korean and Japanese anti-feeling.
 Diplomatic relations between them have become sour and will get worse in the future if
the problem is not solved.