Japanese Government Urges Boycott Of Google Maps Over Disputed Islands
Please note that we are not authorised to provide any investment advice. The content on this page is for information purposes only.
The Japanese government has called on local authorities and state-run universities to stop using Google Maps on their websites, after it took issue with the fact that Google had used the non-Japanese names to refer to islands still contested by Japan and their neighbouring countries.
The Japanese government has called on local authorities and state-run universities to stop using Google Maps on their websites, after it took issue with the fact that Google had used the non-Japanese names to refer to islands still contested by Japan and their neighbouring countries.
According to the Japan Daily Press, the ‘wrongly-named’ islands being disputed by Japan include the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, which is being claimed by China as the Diaoyus and by Taiwan as Diaoyutai; the Takeshima Islands in the Sea of Japan, which is currently controlled by South Korea and known to them as Dokdo Islands; and four islands off Hokkaido called the Northern Territories by Japan but referred to by Russia as the Southern Kurils.
Japan’s Information Technology Department had issued a notice, stating, “some registrations in the electronic maps on the home pages are incompatible with Japan’s stance.” They also urged local agencies to use maps that were compiled by the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan instead.
[quote]”Pay special attention to make sure that the names of places conform to our policies,” the notice added, as cited by The International Business Times.[/quote]During the UN General Assembly last week, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also made clear that his government would not be open for negotiation regarding several of the disputed islands.
“Concerning the Senkaku islands, Senkaku is an inherent part of the territory of Japan in light of historical facts and based upon international law, and the islands are under the valid control of Japan,” he said, as quoted by the New York Times.
[quote]“Japan will not make a concession on our territorial sovereignty,” but “having said so, we do not intend to escalate this issue any further,” Abe added.[/quote]Related: Islands Dispute May Delay China-Japan-South Korea Trilateral Summit: Reports
Related: Japan’s Exports to China Fall amid Territorial Dispute
Related: China-Japan Territorial Dispute Hurts $340bn Trade Ties
Abe, who came to power in December, also said he that might considering placing government officials on the Senkaku islands, which could further escalate the confrontation with China.
As for Google, the Internet company said they only acted on the “fair information” they receive from the states about their stance on several territorial issues. Google however refused to comment on individual cases.
