Posted on 04/09/2008 10:18:56 PM PDT by blam
Japan to plant coral island in the Pacific
By Julian Ryall in Tokyo
Last Updated: 12:01am BST 10/04/2008
Japanese scientists will attempt to "grow" an island in the Pacific Ocean to maintain its fishing territory.
Up to 50,000 shards of coral will be transplanted into the waters around Okinotorishima, two stone outcrops 1,000 miles south of Tokyo, in an effort to stop them sinking.
The outcrops sit just 4in above water at high tide. If they disappear, Japan's maritime territory will shrink dramatically.
addition, rights to oil, minerals and gas beneath the seabed could be lost.
However, the £3.6 million project is causing friction with China, which refuses to recognise the outcrops as an island and claims they cannot be used to stop Beijing's exploration of the area.
"Since 1931, Okinotorishima has been classified as an island," said Tomohiko Taniguchi, a Japanese foreign ministry spokesman.
The islets were discovered in 1789 by Captain William Douglas on board the frigate Iphigenia and appeared on Admiralty charts long before anyone in Japan or China was aware of their existence.
I’m about half-surprised the Chinese aren’t out there shelling it out of existence.
They're waiting until the Olympics are over...
Could be. The Japanese better move fast. Might not hurt to have some of their defense force ships out there, or to talk the US into maneuvers in the vicinity...
What an incredibly neat idea! Way to go Japan!
Sadly Monster Island was destroyed by it’s inhabitants, so Japan must seed a new atoll as a home for Mothra, Rhodan, Ghidora, and Godzilla. ( Bring back the Twins)
LOL. Thanks for the picture.
Theat creeps me out on sooo many levels.
The sneaky beginning of Japanese world domination!....just plant islands everywhere!....you tricky little devils!
Jeez!....when the tide is high the island disappears?
Maybe the UK can resolve this by asserting their claim.
bkmark. thanks : )
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