Military of China, force comment.
Military of China, force comment.

from that country and see the island of Taiwan. This picture on the airport terminal in the country with that prominent position. Global Times reporter stationed in Japan Sun Xiuping photo
Looking booth map of newspaper reporters in Japan this reporter Ta Fang Sun Xiuping photo

Japan Yonaguni

the Japanese” farthest island “Taiwan 110 km away from the SDF are settled into a region sensitive topic

newspaper in Japan, special correspondent Sun Xiuping

” Japan will carefully handle the first session of the Government’s Yonaguni stationed at the GSDF’s problems “and” not in vain so the anxiety caused by neighboring countries, “Japan’s new Defense Minister Kitazawa handsome September 25 These statements seem to Self-Defense Force stationed forces, had asked to play a lose their. Former defense minister in Japan Yasukazu Hamada, and those who support the Self-Defense Forces stationed in the Japanese view, located in the western border of Japan’s Yonaguni Island in national defense is important, why focus on this is called “the westernmost of Japan to “the island, some Japanese media often render possible threat from China. In early October, “Global Times” reporter has become the island, “the first tourists from mainland China”, just two days, the reporter heard the most is the “China threat” concerns. However, the “Chinese spy ships are commonly found” and other phrases, the islanders but had not personally seen that. Reporters on the island do not see any military facilities, and only natural harbor and about 2000 meters long runway. However, SDF is stationed on the controversy, the island is beginning to “unfounded.”

Yonaguni Island, Past and Present

in Yonaguni because “whether the presence of self-defense” and become the focus of Japanese media reported that before reporters in Tokyo. rarely talks to friends in Japan to the island away from home. In the Japanese site, the introduction and history of Yonaguni Island, the text is small, only that it is in Okinawa during the 14th century maritime trade in the leg, into the 19th century, along with Japan and the Ryukyu. Taiwan became a colony of Japan, the island of Taiwan with the Islanders had to make money smuggling trade, the population increased to 20,000 people. After World War II, due to U.S. military intervention, smuggling disruption of trade, rapid population decline. The early 1970s, the United States control of the island to Japan. To now, there are statistics that the island population of only 1625 people.

Yonaguni area of ??only 28 square kilometers. “Global Times” reporter overlooking from the plane, Yonaguni shop on the sea like a green potato. Around the oval-shaped island is a road around the island. Airport on the island’s west, along the coastline long runway, a few meters away is the blue sea, vision is very broad. Airport terminal is small, but the runway is very long, according to public information reports, the runway up to 2,000 meters. This runway was built in 1943 by the Japanese, the two extended, have been able to accept large aircraft taking off and landing. Reach Yonaguni Island, the former is responsible for tourism is kind enough to Bang Ms. Ikuko reporters about the island’s tourist attractions, she also told reporters that the island average only two or three hundred foreigners, tourists, mainly from South Korea and China Taiwan, according to She is the first known correspondent of people from mainland China.

Yonaguni island and overlooking the western sea there is a pavilion. Despite the small pavilion, but on the ground painted a huge map, marked with the Yonaguni Island, China, Taiwan and the Diaoyu Island location. In Yonaguni Island and between the Chinese territory, there is a heavy black line marks the Chinese border on the so-called “median line.” Only separated by a few meters next to the pavilion is one that says “the most western end of Japan’s land” of the stone.

standing on a piece of “land of the western end of Japan” to the west overlooking the sea, an azure sea, 110 kilometers away is the Chinese island of Taiwan. It is said that if the weather is clear and no fog, across Taiwan will be surfacing. And the Japanese mainland than distance, Yonaguni and Taiwan closer. Taiwan’s mobile phone can be used in Taiwan TV signal can be received. Reporters staying at the B & B “Chung pole village,” the hall, hanging on the suzerain photographs, of which a clearly visible mountains of the island of Taiwan, as if an enormous ship, at your fingertips. Unfortunately, that day, because of fog, the reporter did not see the island of Taiwan. But in front of a port is clearly visible, a lot of boats moored in the harbor. Local people said the local residents to go out by boat, cargo and fishing must be from here.

Yonaguni has two ports. One of the areas in the central island of the Zuna, there is no use, but it was the trade in Taiwan and Yonaguni brought over to give a big moneymaker. Therefore, the island administration has hoped to recover the port. Another port is located on the island west of nine good areas, it is correspondent to see the port. Yonaguni and Hualien, Taiwan exchanges between the charter, are also docked at the port.

“A shell destroyed the communication system”

Because it is Japan’s frontier, and that the inhabitants of the island country’s movement on the surrounding sensitive. With the Japanese media on the Diaoyu Islands dispute and the Chinese marine research ship spotted the increase in such reports, the islanders impression of China has become “terrorist.” In September 2008, Yonaguni-cho, Parliament adopted a “promote the Self-Defense Forces stationed in the island,” the resolution, the Japanese right-wing is also aimed at this place, the report Lianpian constantly, many of them in inciting the “China threat theory.” Even after the ruling Democratic Party of Japan, Yonaguni-cho-cho long outside keep Kat September 16, also said Parliament will not change to promote self-defense forces stationed in Yonaguni approach.

correspondent to Yonaguni ago, hoping to interview to promote local self-defense officials stationed on the island and support groups, and I want to see if there are those who oppose the presence. But in half a month’s contacts, not get a clear response. On the island, the reporter soon see the trouble before the interview, contact General Yonaguni-cho, Kawasaki former finance class finance director with Mr. Xiao. The original initiative, Mr. Kawasaki said, “is not in town long”, blocked reporters interview “hand” way. In an interview with reporters, former Kawasaki took two materials, one is outside to keep the guitar when he was a long-cho, Hamada Defense Minister Yasukazu “Request Self-Defense Forces troops to the island country with the hope that the book” and the other one is “on Yonaguni island air defense identification ring to look book. ” Kawasaki explained to reporters the original, from an administrative point of view, such an island, as there is no preparedness and defense in the event of international disputes or shipwreck, there will be no self-defense capabilities, and attract the SDF troops after, both to prevent accidents at sea , can also stimulate the island’s economic development, and ultimately also prompted the Government to establish a sound border policy.

under the leadership of the original Kawasaki, reporters came to the high ground overlooking the street. Way gurgling water, spring clean, which indicates that Yonaguni Although surrounded by the sea, but rich in freshwater resources. Kawasaki former area residents pointed to a distant landmark, said the white triangle, circle that identified the boundaries of air defense, air from the west this flag belong to Taiwan, accounting for Yonaguni 2/3 of the airspace, “the airport in Taiwan air defense identification circle, we must first take-off aircraft to Taiwan issued a circular, or will by the Taiwan military’s emergency dispatch and driving. ” Yonaguni island in the seat angle from which you can see the hill, called the island’s high ground. Tower Block on the hills, a look is the communication system. Kawasaki said the former pointing to the tower, if a missile hit a flying there, as long as one, all the island’s communication system was paralyzed.

“Beiyuan” actually comes from hearsay

in Yonaguni reporter to interview the week before, the market ahead of Japan’s “magazine fashion” on October 1 number published a paper entitled “the front line of defense bears the most remote island of Yonaguni Travel Notes,” a long report. This is a very well-known correspondent of Japan Ryoko Sakurai and interview team made a special trip to Yonaguni Island, issued after the interview. The article said, the westernmost island in Japan, “and that the country”, although from the Chinese mainland and the “Senkaku Islands” (the Chinese called “Diaoyu Islands”), very close, but shouldering the forefront of Japan’s defense role, but there is no Self-Defense Forces stationed in the undefended state, which makes (Japan) border is very dangerous.

“magazine fashion” the article also highlighted the island has a “defensive association with that country,” the association is an effort to promote the Self-Defense Force stationed in Yonaguni Island, the backbone of the organization, president of the Jincheng letter ho. Reported that the Jincheng letter ho himself said: “China’s research vessel there submarines in Yonaguni Island coastal waters, to not care to invade Japan’s territorial waters to the point, China continues to claim from the Yonaguni very close ‘Senkaku Islands’ in China territory. from that country with but 100 kilometers of Taiwan also began to advocate ‘Senkaku Islands’ ownership of the order to protect the safety of the island, be sure to let Self-Defense Force stationed on the island. “vice president of the association said Kenichi coefficient : “I have witnessed three consecutive days in the evening to the Chinese research ship near the shore, regardless of island residents have to see how, and that the country does the threat of being caught in China.”

When a reporter half-jokingly to say, because the Japanese media often reports that “I see China’s spy ship in Yonaguni near infested,” so worried about this on the island “will be treated as spies”, the Kawasaki former President was embarrassed smile, and then very alert to said: “Some people say, indeed have the name of the sea at night see the lights of the ships, but it is certainly not our boat Islanders, but I can not conclude that China’s ship.” Kawasaki original added: “that China, we do feel threatened, such as military spending is increasing every year, but whether the Chinese are not a direct threat to us, it should is another matter. “

for the Chinese survey ship really came to the Yonaguni near the sea, correspondents on the island after almost everyone that asked, whether seen the Chinese vessels. But the answer was to ask people to say “not sure, do see boats come and go at night, but can not determine which country the ship.” They did not listen to people say fishing is indeed seen the Chinese vessels, but added the occasional Japanese fishermen were arrested in Taiwan, and then be back to happen.

is confirmed and that the country’s defense and vice president of the Association, who remarks, the reporter insisted on face to face interviews with them. Repeated request, the original Kawasaki said they refused to be interviewed. Until finally the plane took off in the islands former reporter for two hours, only one name with that of the original complex, as is the “Association of Supervisors and that National Defense, Ministry of Defense Defense Simulation responsible person” who came to see reporters. During the interview, and look carefully that the original complex, the wording also try to avoid using harsh words, he said Jin Cheng, president of the association is often mentioned in defense of “China threat” in the subject, said the vice president also seen around vessels in the neighboring Chinese activities. However, with that of the original fan said: “nationality of the ship can not be determined.” And that the original complex also stressed that, because I heard that China’s military spending continuous increase in strength from strength to strength, they do feel that the threat from China, but not to the daily spook level. With that of the original complex also said, Yonaguni Defense Association was formed three years ago, hope the SDF mission is stationed in Yonaguni, as “stressed here is Japanese territory.” The Association also through related activities to prevent the islanders, “China”, because the island’s many cultural practices have come from China, there was anxiety on the island, “China” is growing.

in Japan’s new Defense Minister Kitazawa handsome open end of September showed that presence of Yonaguni Island, the SDF must be cautious attitude problem before (on the next seventh edition) Yonaguni Town Council has passed a resolution, said: Although the Japanese government dominated by the Liberal Democratic Party into the Democratic-led, but with that country town to promote the Self-Defense Force stationed in the next Parliament resolution does not change. According to him, hope the SDF presence Yonaguni, attitude is very positive, the Association and the SDF will continue to unite the parties concerned to exert pressure.

Yonaguni Town Council to agree by a majority vote of the “Self-Defense Forces stationed in the request to the Government’s agreement”, the only opposition SDF members stationed in the small town frankly Ridge Bo Quan told reporters that he felt the “China is indeed a threat, “but because of it, he said:” and that the country should not allow the SDF troops, now’s not necessary to put and China opposing stance. should be between the two countries through economic cooperation to eliminate the tension and confrontation. ” But let a small ridge regret, others less powerful one, its ideas not only in the Town Council that no one seriously, not many supporters of the islanders. Little Ridge told reporters, stationed in the island to support the school Self-Defense Forces have begun operations, such as the soon to visit the airport in Shimane Prefecture, for the Self-Defense Force stationed in search “under” and learn.

leave Yonaguni, the reporter saw at the airport parking lot side of the wall hung a huge banner that said: “Let the Self-Defense Force is stationed Yonaguni Islanders Beiyuan!” “Sad like “in Japanese means” no matter what way should be achieved through the willing tragic. ” Sadness come from? It is said that many of the islanders have not been to a foreign person’s life, but never met a person who had been to mainland China. Reporters on the island to stay two days, many islanders talk about “China ships come and go” when they stressed that “this is to listen to or watch reports to know.” In the end Where these hearsay “China threat”? October 5, Japan, “Asahi Shimbun” on the use of five major published a “Chinese Navy to power forward” feature, a big picture of Chinese warships and huge black eye-catching title.

This phenomenon is not only worth pondering China, Japan, more worthy of serious consideration.

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