Toshitaka TAKEUCHI    Department   Kyoto University of Foreign Studies  Department of Global Studies, Faculty of Global Engagement    Position   Professor
Date	2021/03/20
Title	Discussant,“Japan’s Approach to Maritime Conflicts with China in the East China Sea and Prospects for Renewed Conflict Management and Resolution”
Conference	Asia-Pacific Studies Seminar
Promoters	Prof. Sugta, Osaka University
Location	Webnair
Conference Type	International
Lecture Type	Other
Contribution Type	Individual
Publisher and common publisher	Prof. Paul Midford, Norwegian Univ. of Science and Technology
Details	His argument is that there is a territorial dispute between Japan and China and both should be realistic in solving it. He acknowledges that none of his proposals would be accepted. A salient feature is that, as I found it, he recommends the compromise based on the example of the Svalbard Treaty (Spitzbergen Treaty) of 1920 between Norway and Russia (the Soviet Union), which is de-militarized. Norway gets the sovereignty, but the USSR gets equal access to natural resources according to this Treaty. This is an interesting suggestion and might have the merit to explore. His suggestions as to CBM measures, etc, would not stand because we cannot, unfortunately, trust what China says. The recent history in the South China Sea tells us that China does not necessarily keep what it promises.