Japanese Foreign Minister repeats ‘Dokdo = Japanese territory’ in diplomatic speech for 10 years

Japan’s foreign minister has made the absurd claim that Dokdo, a Korean territory, is Japan’s own territory in his annual diplomatic speech for the 10th consecutive year.

Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa said in a diplomatic speech at the regular Diet session that began today that Dokdo is “Japan’s own territory in the light of historical facts,” and said, “Based on this basic situation, we will respond firmly .”

After Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said in a diplomatic speech in 2014 when he was Foreign Minister, “Japan’s own territory, Shimane Prefecture Takeshima,” the Japanese Foreign Minister has been claiming Dokdo as Japanese territory for the past 10 years.

In his diplomatic speech last year, Foreign Minister Hayashi insisted that “Takeshima is an inherent territory of Japan even in the light of historical facts and international law.”

However, Foreign Minister Hayashi emphasized the importance of strategically strengthening cooperation with South Korea in order to respond to issues such as North Korea’s repeated ballistic missile launches.

Foreign Minister Hayashi said, “Korea is a neighboring country that needs cooperation in responding to various challenges in the international community.”

Before this, Prime Minister Kishida also said in a policy speech, “We will communicate closely to restore and develop healthy relations with Korea, an important neighboring country that must cooperate in responding to various challenges in the international community.”