4 Japanese lawmakers inspect Senkaku Islands by plane+

TOKYO, Oct. 9 Kyodo -
Four Japanese lawmakers, including former Cabinet member Kazuhiro Haraguchi,
inspected the Senkaku Islands from the air Saturday in the wake of last month's
collisions between a Chinese trawler and Japan Coast Guard patrol boats near
the disputed islets in the East China Sea.
The lawmakers -- members of a nonpartisan parliamentary group working to
protect Japan's sovereignty and national interests -- examined the Senkakus and
nearby waters on a chartered plane from an airport on Ishigaki Island, Okinawa
Prefecture.
The move comes as Japan and China have begun working on mending relations that
were soured following the collisions that led to the arrest and temporary
detention of the Chinese boat's captain by Japanese authorities.
The participation by Haraguchi, a ruling Democratic Party of Japan member in
the House of Representatives, in the inspection may displease the Chinese
government, as he had been minister of internal affairs and communications in
Prime Minister Naoto Kan's Cabinet until September.
The islets are administered by Japan as part of the Ishigaki municipal
government, but they are also claimed by China and Taiwan. Japan rejects such
claims, stating its position that no territorial dispute exists involving the
Senkaku Islands.
DPJ Secretary General Katsuya Okada expressed a sense of displeasure over
Haraguchi's move, telling reporters in Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, where he
was visiting, ''Each lawmaker shall take responsibility over the consequence of
his action.''
According to sources close to Okada, the secretary general asked Haraguchi over
the phone Thursday to call off the inspection but Haraguchi turn down the
request.
Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara refused to comment on the action, saying, ''The
government has no concerns with (Haraguchi's decision) as he should have made
his own decision as a Diet member.''
Haraguchi told reporters after returning to Ishigaki Island, ''I got a real
sense that (the Senkaku Islands) are part of Japan's territory. I also keenly
felt the importance of this region.''
Transport minister Sumio Mabuchi said Haraguchi asked the transport ministry to
let them use a Coast Guard plane for the inspection but that he turned down the
request.
In addition to Haraguchi, others taking part in the tour were Yukihisa Fujita,
a DPJ lawmaker in the House of Councillors, and two lower house members --
Katsuyuki Kawai of the Liberal Democratic Party and Mito Kakizawa of Your
Party.
==Kyodo
2010-10-09 23:27:56