Reference News Network, March 14 report. According to the Asahi Shimbun website, on March 13, Japan's Prime Minister Hashimoto Asako expressed her desire for cabinet ministers to attend the "Dokdo (Japan calls it Takeshima) Day" commemorative event held every February at a meeting of the House of Representatives Budget Committee on the 12th. In response, the South Korean Foreign Ministry issued a comment on March 13: "We will resolutely and seriously deal with all inappropriate claims by Japan regarding Dokdo." Both Japan and South Korea claim sovereignty over the island.
During her campaign for the leadership of the Liberal Democratic Party last autumn, Hashimoto had stated that cabinet ministers should attend the "Dokdo Day" event. However, on the day the event was held this February, she still followed the convention, sending officials at the level of parliamentary secretary only.
At the budget committee meeting on the 12th, Hashimoto said, "I am still committed to creating an environment where I can eventually achieve the goal I mentioned during the LDP presidential election," but she also admitted that "the Dokdo issue is quite complicated." (Translated by Liu Lin)
Original: toutiao.com/article/7616979482162790950/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.