Even by the Foreign Ministry’s lofty standards of disinformation, this is complete and utter bullshit:
In regards to the ministry’s parliamentary audit report that claims the Gando Convention is null and void, Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Ban Ki-moon said Thursday that the claim had been an administrative mistake and he asked for understanding.
Minister Ban said at a briefing that the Gando Convention should be interpreted by international law and politics, and a number of complex factors.
The minister said that his previous position discounting the Gando Convention was a call for a more accurate and earnest historical study, because the convention was a complicated and critical issue.
No, Mr. Ban, I’m afraid that excuse just won’t cut it. Good college try, though.
In more Gando goodness, Kyung Hee University has revealed maps that prove Gando — both East and West — were considered Korean territory in the 18th and 19th centuries. Take a look at the maps yourself, and if you have any suggestion as how to rename Chinese cities, I’m sure the Foreign Ministry would be happy to take them.
21 Comments
Are there any old 19th century or older maps showing that region marked as “China”? Oh yes, there are none.
This must be MOFAT’s favorite map. Notice the SOJ/East Sea says “Cor…”, but the West Sea says “Yel…”. Just an observation.
Were there any natural resources of note in the territory in question? I think I remember that Manchuria in general was desired by Japan in the 30’s in part beause of these (coal for sure, maybe irron ore, & didn’t China used to meet its domestic need for oil from Manchuria — at least until the last couple of decades).
I say “were” because I imagine modern China with its voracious demand for raw materials would have significantly depleted such mineral assets by now.
China still has massive coal reserves, not only in the northeast also practically all over. The region however is also famous for petroleum. The Daqing oil fields were China’s principal oil supply up until the 80’s and the output was enough for not only domestic consumption but also export. However, they don’t produce nearly enough oil now to satisfy China’s growth and yields have also dropped as the fields are drying out. Though there is still oil left in them and the infrastructure to extract it, so I’m sure the Koreans wouldn’t mind getting their hands on it. However, they are a bit north of what was Gando (depending on which map you choose to assert Gando claims) and I believe are outside of the present debate (depending on if the Koreans don’t also want the rest of Manchuria along with Gando).
I don’t know where the South Koreans are coming out with their maps and claiming “western” Gando though I do see acceed that they have a point with the eastern Gando. The border on the west between China and Korea has been the Yalu river for centuries now and it is only on the east the debate raged over which Tumen river earlier treaties referred to.
As for your little catty remark Kimbob. Of course there are maps prior to the 19th century that show the region as part of Chinese territory. On more than one occassion half the Korean peninsula was in Chinese hands. The earliest of which was the Li Commandery, the most recent of being 1958 and depending on things play out in the future, it may not even be the last.
Korea thinks the Gando convention should be interpreted by international law. Meanwhile Korea does not want the Dokdo situation to be resolved by international law- because it is widely believed they would lose it to Japan. Korea will never let Dokdo be resolved by an international body and China will never let Gando be resolved by an international body.
This news about a border dispute between China and Korea is totally new to me. I used to think CCP should let north Korea collapse and let two Koreas unite. Now I think China should help North Korea as long as we can. United Korea is way too much trouble. I have no idea what those south koreans have in mind.
Have you guys ever heard of the theory “the best defense against agression is the offense”? Unlike the weak 19th century Korean Chosun dynasty, Korea’s not going to wait and do nothing while the vultures fly high, then see the history repeat itself.
Onto the next story: Taiwan thinks the ability to obliterate 10 of China’s cities will keep those PRC maglomaniacs from trying to thieve away Taiwan.
Good on those Taiwanese. They should go for it.
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10.....4nuke.html
Interesting. A few weeks back I wrote about China doing pretty much the same thing by integrating the history of one of the ancient north kingdoms that was ruled by what is now Korea into its own history, saying that it was part of China.
Kimbob.
If Taiwan were to level 10 Chinese cities then China would legally be able ot devistate the island. China won’t make a move on Taiwan without provocation, it has too much too loose if it does. Beijing isn’t utterly bonkers. Taiwan is a good source of investment and trade revenue, it is in both China and Taiwan’s interests to sit in a corner and rattle the sword every few years, but not actually do anything.
The only place that Taiwan could get city killing missiles from is the US, and I don’t want to see more American nukes in the Pacific than are already here. For one thing I live rather close by.
why bother to discuss the what would reslut if Taiwan “destroyed 10 Chinese cities” - if that really happened, something totally unpredictable and very unpleasant would occur.
i agree that theoretically China-Taiwan situation is in a stable equilibrium - the problem is that China’s govt is unstable… if there is ever a domestic crisis, they may decide to invade taiwan to distract from the failings of the gov’t.
Off the topic a bit, here’s that new villain in Korea at the moment: Introducing reporter Lisa Ling.
http://www.public.asu.edu/~dej.....aLing.html
And here she is on Oprah, talking about India’s bride burning: (I had no ideal she was such an accomplished journalist investigating numerous news stories in the past. So I take back what I said about her)
http://www.oprah.com/tows/past.....0116.jhtml
And ironically, do you remember the Korean American actor Ricky Yune? - he’s the other villain in Korea for portraying that North Korean officer in the James Bond movie. But get this, he’s apparrently Lisa Ling’s sweetheart boyfriend! he. What the hell?
http://www.mi6.co.uk/news/index.php?itemid=346
Taiwan neither has the warheads nor the missiles to deliver them. Taiwan was working on them during the 80’s but Uncle Sam essentially stated no nukes for you! The Taipei provisional government neither has the means nor the balls to pull a stunt like that. If you had read carefully the NYT article, they were actually quoting the Taipei Times. I have long lost most respect for the NYT a while ago but this is essentially beating a dead corpse. NYT reporters are lazy turds, the Taipei Times happens to be the only English language newspaper of any significance on Taiwan, unfortunately it basically has no readership in Taiwan itself! Instead of bothering with a Chinese language newspaper, the NYT got lazy or apparently didn’t have any journalists in Taiwan who can read Chinese in the first place, which begs the question as to how in depth their reporting can be.
The Taipei Times itself is a manifestation of the shoddiest form of journalism available. I swear early 20th century yellow journalism papers can be more meticulous than the Taipei Times. It’s editorials consist of nothing but random screeds by Taiwan separatists living in America, either that or they go unattributed entirely. If Mr. Marmot thinks the Chosun-Ilbo and the Hankyroeh are examples of piss poor journalism, he should definetly check out the Taipei Times to just see how low they can truely go.
On more about the shoddy standards of the NYT, the politician in question grilling Yu Shi Kun was almost certainly not referring to the Taipei Times, more likely than not, he was referring to its sister publication in Chinese, the Liberty Times which does have a readership and do share some re-translated editorials. The legislator may have been insinuating the government was behind the article but that is likely politicking. The Taipei Times editorials are nearly always incredibly juvenile and stupid (I mean this literally, the authors are childish idiots). The DPP government is much the same way, but theres no relationship between the two.
i think jing is a communist.
‘beijing not bonkers…taiwan good source of funds.’
yes, and sk is the largest foreign investor in china. korea has no strings?
i think it do.
‘how will the koreans finance caring for korean hertiage in china? with plastic?
yen jun
newsflash, yenjun: south korea = first world. china = third world.
any questions?
NY Times, Taipei Times, Chosun = all bad papers.
China Daily = good paper!
Yellow Journalism according to Communists.
If thats what you want to read from what I wrote, then go ahead.
Let me retreat into my evil lair and plot Chinese irridentism. First Taiwan, then North Korea, followed by Mongolia, parts of Kazakhstan, the RFE, and most of SE Asia while I am at it. Heute Koguryo danach die Welt!
FYI, the first man to discover America was a Korean man who refused to ask directions after he got lost somewhere near Gando. I have pictures to prove it too.
nulji maripkan
korea=first world?? not quite yet
am from singapore and been to korea many times. seoul should be at most = a second world city.
sick of singaporeans getting on their fucking 10 foot poles. their official language is english. what kind of disgraceful nod to culture obliteration is that? yeah, i can speak english, but i can’t chew gum… Riiiggght.
In the Korean Herald:
Korea stood out in this year’s national competitiveness ranking issued by the World Economic Forum for its significant drop: 11 places from 18th last year to 29th.
Korea’s sharp decline made a stark contrast with other major countries in Asia, which maintained or improved their high positions: Taiwan (4th), Singapore (6th) Japan (9th) and Hong KOng (21st).
It is widely recognised that Korea has…10/15 yearsbefore…high growth becomes impossible.
If we waste this brief period of time, the window…for Korea to join the ranks of advanced nations will be closed forever.
Goodnight. I am going to watch Lee Jung-jae in Last Witness again.
Asia by Blog
Asia by Blog is a twice weekly feature, posted on Monday and Thursday, providing links to Asian blogs and their views on the news in this fascinating region. Please send me an email if you would like to be notified of new editions. Previous editions ca…
singapore has 4 offical languages; english, malay, mandarin and tamil. the national language is malay. “culture obliteration”? quite the contary, singapore is very rich culturally.
girls nipple torture
Nationalism means maki…