TOKYO (Sputnik) — The Japanese government plans to continue to defend its right to disputed Takeshima islands (Dokdo in South Korea) that are the subject of territorial disputes between Tokyo and Seoul, the country’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said Monday.
"Territorial integrity is one of the main points of our policy. We will continue clarifications both domestically and abroad," Suga said during a press conference, commenting on the annual Takeshima Day in Shimane Prefecture.
Japanese relations with South Korea have been marred by territorial disagreements over the Liancourt Rocks in the Sea of Japan/East Sea, known as Dokdo in South Korea and as Takeshima in Japan.
South Korea, however, believes that there are no territorial disputes over Dokdo, as the islands belong to South Korean territory historically, geographically, as well as under the international law.
