Sailors fold the Japanese naval ensign after a flag lowering ceremony on the deck of Japanese helicopter carrier Kaga anchored near Jakarta Port ahead of its departure for naval drills in the Indian Ocean, Indonesia September 21, 2018. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon
The Guardian: Japan pulls out of naval drills over demands it remove 'rising sun' flag
Host nation South Korea ordered Tokyo to drop ensign linked to colonial rule and militaristic past.
Japan has withdrawn from an international fleet review this week after rejecting demands that its warship take part without its “rising sun” flag ensign – regarded by many Koreans as a symbol of Japanese militarism and colonial rule.
South Korea – the host nation – had asked all 14 countries sending vessels to the five-day event, which begins on Thursday at a naval base on the island of Jeju, to ensure they display only their national flags and the flag of South Korea.
The rule – in effect a demand for Japan to remove the kyokujitsuki flag from a destroyer due to take part in the exercise – was introduced amid simmering bilateral disputes over Japan’s use of Korean sex slaves during the second world war and ownership of a group of islets called Takeshima in Japan and Dokdo in South Korea.
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More News On Japan Pulling Out Of The South Korean Fleet Event Over Demands It Remove Its 'Rising Sun' Flag
Japan to skip naval event after South Korea protests over 'Rising Sun' flag -- Reuters
Japan to skip South Korea fleet event over 'rising sun' flag -- FOX News
Japan withdraws from fleet review over flag spat with South Korea -- Navy Times
Japan Backs out of Korean Fleet Review Over Imperial Flag -- Chosun Ilbo
Japan opts out of naval event over flag row with S. Korea -- Korea Herald
Japan to skip international naval event amid 'Rising Sun' flag row -- Korea Times
