The Ishigaki City Council in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, on Friday (January 23) passed a new ordinance by majority vote to strengthen management of the Senkaku Islands (known as Diaoyu Islands in China) and other areas within the city’s administrative region. Opposition parties criticized that this ordinance could lead to further deterioration of Japan-China relations.
According to Kyodo News on Saturday (January 24), the Ishigaki City Council in Okinawa Prefecture held an extraordinary meeting on Friday and, by majority vote, passed a draft ordinance aimed at protecting the environment and ensuring navigation safety in the surrounding waters, covering the Senkaku Islands within its administrative region.
The Ishigaki City Council stated that the purpose of enacting this ordinance is to help with proper management and support sustainable development. City council members from the Liberal Democratic Party faction submitted the draft ordinance last December.
At Friday’s meeting, 21 people voted (excluding the chair), with 14 in favor and seven against. The ordinance took effect immediately.
At Friday’s meeting, 21 people voted (excluding the chair), with 14 in favor and seven against. The ordinance took effect immediately.
The new ordinance states that the natural environment of the Senkakus and resources in the surrounding waters are an important asset for the future sustainability of Ishigaki City. The ordinance also states that Ishigaki City will make efforts to conduct environmental surveys, support the safety of fishing boats and others navigating the surrounding waters, and explore measures to promote tourism, education, and academic research for the revitalization of the region.
In the debate explaining the opposing views, City Council member Mr. Nobuo Nagahama of the opposition faction pointed out that, since the Senkakus are remote border islands, prior coordination should have been conducted with relevant central government agencies. He also criticized that the new ordinance could possibly lead to further deterioration of Japan-China relations.
Previously, Ishigaki City Mayor Yoshitaka Nakayama stated on January 14 that he intended to request that the Japanese government conduct landing surveys on the Senkaku Islands to understand the actual environmental changes.
In the debate explaining the opposing views, City Council member Mr. Nobuo Nagahama of the opposition faction pointed out that, since the Senkakus are remote border islands, prior coordination should have been conducted with relevant central government agencies. He also criticized that the new ordinance could possibly lead to further deterioration of Japan-China relations.
Previously, Ishigaki City Mayor Yoshitaka Nakayama stated on January 14 that he intended to request that the Japanese government conduct landing surveys on the Senkaku Islands to understand the actual environmental changes.
Nakayama made this statement at the “Senkaku Islands Development Day” ceremony held in Ishigaki City, saying, “From the perspective of protecting the natural environment, we will also strongly request necessary countermeasures.” The Senkaku Islands are under the administrative region of Ishigaki City.
Nakayama pointed out that damage from goats and accumulated drifting debris have caused “a decline in valuable plants and animals, changes in ecosystems, and increasingly severe terrain collapse problems,” and stated that marine surveys conducted by the city are limited in scope.
During the ceremony, Nakayama also read out a message from Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, stating, “From both historical and international law perspectives, the Senkaku Islands are undoubtedly our country’s inherent territory, and we are exercising effective control over them.”