Here, we can see a river, which forms the border between North Korea and China. This bridge, which is the major trade route between China and North Korea, symbolizes the fellowship of the two countries. As we rode on an excursion ship and neared the river of North Korea early in the morning, residents greeted us. North Korean soldiers, who are busy starting their daily work, are also near as if we can grip them.

The longest river in Korea is roughly 925km in length. This is the Amnokgang River. However, this river is known as ‘Yalujiang’ all over the world. ‘Amnokgang river’ has disappeared from the world map.

Not to mention Britannica Encyclopedia online of America, but even in the maps that were made by UN and other countries, we are unable to find the names of ‘Amnokgang River’ and ‘Dumangang river’ and Baekdu mountain. Their names are introduced to the world by the Chinese names ‘Yalu River’, ‘Tuman River’, and ‘Changbai Mountain’. ‘Yalu River’ is the Chinese description of ‘Amnokgang River’. However,’Tumen River’ is not the Chinese name for ‘Dumangang River’. Tumen river refers to Tomun river, not Dumangang River. Chinese intentionally mislabeled to distort Korea’s culture, history and justified illegal occupation of Gando which is clearly an act of aggression like they did to Tibetans.

The beginning of history dispute goes way back to Mt. Beakdu6 in 1712. On a monument on Baekdu Mountain, which was erected by China to conform the national boundary between China and Korea, it was said that ‘Amnokgang River’ and ‘Tomun River’ were the borders of two countries. If Tumen River is Toman River and the border is Dumangang River as China insists, boundary of Korea and China at that time should correspond with that of today. However, as we can see in all the European maps of that time, boundary definitely lays further north.

The map, which was made in 1749 by a French geographer, D’Anville, shows that national boundary formed further north than today’s Amnokgang River and Dumangang River. This also could found in the Kitchen’s map that was made at that time. These maps were manufactured by European geographers who saw this boundary issue from a neutral position with support and information from the Chinese government. 69 ancient European maps are made in that way. So far as in the boundary treaty made by China and North Korea in 1962, the boundary of China and North Korea. Clearly states that it passes over Tomun River, which is under Beakdu Mountain, and Dumangang River, which is 40km below Tomun river. By this fact, China is proving by itself that Dumangang River is not Tomun River.

1897, Korea appointed a Kamrisa(a government official) to protect the Joseon people in Gando. In the early 1900s, Gando was still a territory of Korea, and even when Korea became forcefully annexed to Japan, Korea was more than capable of ruling Gando. The Korean government was the de-facto ruler of the area and even declared that Koreans living in Gando were not obliged to pay taxes to the Qing government of China.

However, The Japanese government took away the diplomatic rights of Korea and in September of the year 1909, signed the “Gando Agreement” with the Qing dynasty of China, giving the Korean territory of Gando to China in exchange for the right to construct five Southern Manchuria railroads and the right to mine the Pusan coal-mine.

This crucial event gave China the right to exercise political control over Gando. The Japanese government, based on the “Eulsa Agreement”, the illegal treaty between Korea and japan, sold the territory of Joseon to benefit itself, making China the luckiest party because it obtained the territory of Gando. Even if the ‘Eulsa Agreement’ were valid, the Japanese merely had the right to “protect” Korea, not the diplomatic right to sign treaties. Therefore, the right to sign the Agreement was solely held by the Joseon government.

However, the Gando Agreement was made without the consent of Emperor Kojong of Korea. Therefore the agreement, according to international law, is void. China, which is currently the defacto ruler of Gando, is trying to justify its rule over the territory by not recognizing the Gando Agreement, which can always be declared void, but changed the name of the Dumangang River to the Tomun River, insisting on its rule over the area. To further justify its claims, the Chinese government is promoting the name, Tomun, to foreign nations for international acknowledgement. The Koreans controlled Northeast area China across the Duman and the Amnokgang River for several thousand years and this de-facto rule still exists today due to the Korean minorities(Joseon jok or Chaoxian zhu) living in the area today.

The Koreans are now trying to take back the Gando territory which has been illegally occupied by China and correct the distorted histories of Korea, China, and Japan. We want to let the world know that the falsely named river, Tumenjiang is like the distorted history of Tibet, an illegal attempt and threat to infringe upon Korea’s history and rightful territory. Baekdu Mountain, which the Koreans have held so dear and sacred for many decades, and the two Rivers, Amrok kang and Duman kang, are the rightful territories of Korea. We now introduce Baekdu Mountain, Amnokgang River and Dumangang River to the billion inhabitants of the globe.

Especially with the elevation of the political and economical status in the past 10 years, the Northeast Asia is globally an important region and the northeast area, being the center of Northeast Asia has strategic importance. The strategic status of the northeast area and the whole strategic status of Northeast Asia is so closely related that the strategy of the northeast has close relation to the world strategy. Therefore, the change of the northeast in the 21 century will effect the worlds strategic pattern. This is why the change in the northeast is not merely a problem in that region but is a change to realize the whole picture of China, the unification stressed multi race nation, which is closely related to the world situations. 

China, reacting sensitively to the changes in the northeast area, concentrated on studying the Gando issue from the 1990s and at the time of friendly relations with Korea, they reviewed the key issues and measures of racial stability and development. Also, in 1997, the effects of the changes in the Korean peninsula effecting the northeast were surveyed. This shows that the research of Gando as history, present and the future issue is something that is of interest in all timberlines. 

What is the truth of Gando? Conflict or peace? How should the Gando issue be resolved so that it will provide peace in the future? This is a task that is given to all of us which needs all of our combined wisdom.

1) Getting more people to know the Gando problem
The Gando Problem is not externally perceived as a peaceful and future problem. On the other hand, it is understood as something that arouses conflict and puts a dent in peace but if you take a look from the inside you will clearly know that this problem is directed to peace and an issue that must be solved for our future. Conflict must be resolved by dialog and negotiation. Leaving it under the table and ignorance will provide not solution. Therefore, for peace in Asia and mutually friendly relations among countries, we first need to recognize this issue. For the balance and peace of the northeast, wisdom for resolving problems through peaceful negotiations is needed rather than keeping this unresolved leaving possibility of new conflicts.

The initial request for peaceful negotiations should be requested to China because the Gando problem is a territorial dispute between Korea (the unified Korea) and China. This should stop here. No beating around the bush when the request is made to Japan. The conflict between Korea and China originated because Japan misused their imperialistic force in an illegal way handling things in their own convenience.

The Eulsa Treaty and the Gando Agreement was illegally signed by Japan. The Gando Agreement should have been terminated in 1910 when Japan made Korea a colony by force, the Manbong Treaty in 1915 and when there were many claims of the Gando Agreement being invalid in 1920. Also, it should have been invalid according to the Cairo, Potsdam and San francisco Treaties. Cooperaton by Japan to fix the problem that they had made is important because they have an important role in all legal and international relations. The US, participated in the Cairo, Potsdam and San francisco Treaties, is responsible too. Therefore, Korea’s sovereignty over the Gando issues should be presented to China, Japan and the US simultaneously. In the Korea China territorial dispute, the third party can play role direct and indirect role of relieving the tension of sensitive conflicts. Also, aggressive international diplomacy must be conducted for international support and informing the international society. This is not only for the Gando issues but also a method for building peace in eastern Asia.

2) Discuss mutual trust for building peace
A method to build peace is to have discussions based on mutual trust. Japan and Russia has had a long going dispute over territory that has built needless arguments and distrust. They felt the necessity for having talks based on mutual trust. Gorbachev suggested to Japan in publishing a cooperative archive. In September 29th 1992, ‘Japan Russia history of territory co-published by the foreign ministries of both Japan and Russia’ was published. This was a triumph for both countries finding something in common which lead to a deeper understanding on the interactions of Japan and Russia where this bears more significance.

This example should be taken as a model, taking account to the characteristics of the nations involved, in what cooperation and efforts are all about and this should be reflected into action to resolve the problems. According to international law, after the Palmus island arbitration in 1928, the nation wanted to have possession of the land that was in dispute. Each country abides by the traditional ‘International Law’s general rule on possession of territory’.

Recently, the IJC values the decision of the Imperial Nation ruling the area that had actual territorial disposal rights at the time of the settling of territorial disputes. Therefore, research of Korea’s international status, jurisdiction of Gando at the time and protectorate of status according to international law during the time of the Gando Agreement must be conducted. A review of the legal relation of the dependency and the protectorate, the dependency’s legal status according to international law, protectorate’s legal status according to international law and actions that exceed authorization of the protectorate needs to be conducted.

3) Territorial Sunshine Policy
Territorial issues are not merely political or diplomatic problems. They are overall problems in nation to nation relations that need to be considered. Not only to Korean and China but the political, economical, diplomatical, cultural, social and etc. that covers all aspects of the nation needs to be considered and within this process the territorial issue has to finds its place so this needs to be seen as a long term agenda that needs to be reviewed with care. The territorial issues between Korea and China can be seen as a lonely traveler in the cold winter who has a thick coat on. If the north winds blow hard, then the traveler can only hold on to his coat more tighter. But the north winds can’t merely solve the complicated problems so if there is sun light we need to make the traveler take his coat off. In a warm atmosphere, both countries must have negotiations in many areas. Territorial sun light policy is needed which can be approached by culture and economy.

Complex historical, political and international legal elements of the Gando issues should be observed. More interest in simultaneously solving two difficult problems which are solving the territorial issues in a active manner and easing tension with near countries tightening relations peacefully are needed.

4) Considering borders for the future
The changing borders need to be considered from a futuristic standpoint. Raimondo Strassoldo classified borders into ‘Nation-Building’, ‘Co-existence’ and ‘Integration’ and C. S. Momoh into ‘Zero Borderlands’, ‘Minimum Borderlands’ and ‘Maximum Borderlands’.

Oscar J. Martinez got ideas from the previous models and classified borders into 4 types: ‘Alienated borderlands’, ‘Co-existent borderlands’, ‘Interdependent borderlands’ and ‘Integrated borderlands’. In fig 1 to fig 4, you can see the degree of mutual exchange and overlapping seen in the figures according to the borders of each nation.

Reference: Oscar J. Martinez, “The Dynamics of Border Interaction: New approaches to border analysis”, edited by Schofield, Clive H, Global Boundaries: World Boundaries, Volume 1, London; New York, Routledge, 2002, p. 3.

As seen above, seeing the tendency of the border form analysed by Raimondo Strassoldo, C.S. Momoh and Oscar J. Martinez is that if there is less mutual exchange or none then this results in an co-existence or mutual dependence for safety and development of both countries and will progress to and Integrated borderland to maximize the benefits. There is a slight difference but you can see that the meaning of border changes according to time. The border for Korea and China, when relations aren’t so close it is crucial to make this area meaningful to both parties and building more trust. This will be a vital element in forming an East Asia community.

In order to make this area a more meaningful one, objectively researching and reviewing historical issues are needed. We need to solve the unsolved historical issues to eliminate conflict and building peace. To achieve this, the name, area and etc. of Gando must be redefined in the process of solving the basic problems. By doing this, both countries must think over how the new relation will turn out. They shouldn’t dwell on events that caused disputes and cause new problems that will damage relations but think over what kind of relation will be made and what options are available. After World War II, most of the border disputes in Europe were solved. A different approach mentioned previously made this possible.

Saar area, rich in coal and located on the border of Germany and France, was an important location on the border. This regional dispute was solved by planning for Europeanization of Saar. Trieste was located between Yugoslavia and Italy. The Irredentismo which was a movement for retrieving unretrieved territory made Trieste a part of Italy in 1919 and was under the jurisdiction of the UN as a Trieste free area in 1947. Tirol, located in the southern part of the Alps between Italy and Austria held a foreign ministers conference in 1969. This made this area a more autonomous in legislation and administration, making Italian and German the official language, assuring German use in schools and transcription of names of places in both Italian and German. There was much effort that was put in. In January 1995, Austria proceeded in becoming a member of the EU. The closely located Tirol and Trentino-Alto Adige borders were crossed for corporation of 2 states that gave birth to the planning of a new self governing. We should learn from this example.

5) Being open to wanting peace
To resolve these problems and keeping good relations, ensuring safety, approach other various topics like culture, science, arts, academic, sports and etc. for exchange and negotiation to resolve issues is needed rather than staying on the one topic(border) which might lead to more tension. To not show such a strong impression that you are dwelling on the return of territory, expanding exchange of various areas is important. Make sure that all things of this nature are included so there is a means of escape while having negotiations of many topics.

Also, using the understanding dissymmetry among countries is also a meaningful project. For example, Egypt request for return of territory that has symbolic significance while Israel from a safety assurance stand point observed no Egyptian tanks along their border. This understanding can result in Egypt getting sovereignty over the territory and demilitarize the conflict area. This might be a different kind of example but for the returning of Okinawa, the US needed a military base and territory was important for Japan. This is why there was possibility for negotiations. Applying this to the Northern four islands, the Russia and Japan conflict area, Japan wanted territory and Russia wanted honor, safety assurance, economical support or cooperation and etc. and this difference shows that there is a need to study what can be negotiated.

The above are ways to build peace. The question ‘Is the Gando issue’ going to occur conflict or will it be a problem for peace? This doesn’t depend on the issue itself but how this is worked out. Especially, we are in an era when many topics need to be discussed in the East Asia community. This is why resolving the Gando issue has such a big significance.

1) The geological significance of Gando
It can be said that basically the Gando issues are a border and territorial issue between Korea and China but in the 19th and 20th century it became a northeastern concern with Japan, China, Korea (Chosun) and Russia being involved. When Russia was expanding their power to the northeastern region, they became interested in the Gando issues and Korea (Chosun) tried to set mutual relations but Japan got in the way and this didn’t work out. Japan winning the Rosso-Japan war, they were successful in driving the Russians out of southern Manchu and Korea was stripped of its diplomatic rights. Then in 1909, Japan signed the Gando Agreement that gave Gando, the controversial land, to China.

As you can see, Gando itself is a strategically important area. Also, it is easy to approach Korea, China and Russia and it can be a train connection path and ports can be built in this area. It is a vast area rich with local goods so it can’t be an area that can be left alone so it can be said that it is a source of power if you intend to rule East Asia.

Gando had to be occupied by the Chinese when expanding to the east and also was recognized as a natural fort. Gando has rivers flowing through and mountains surround this area making it suitable for a fort during war and once the land of fallen kingdoms. Gando can be obtained when advancing and retreating. It is a natural fort located in the southeast Jilin. If Russia got Gando, Japan and China would easily be beaten. If Japan got Gando, Russia and China would easily be beaten and it would be the same for China. This is why this area is so important. If Korea gets Gando, it would be a great footstep in advancing to the north.

If China can’t keep Gando, the northeast area will be in danger which is liable to lead to China in an unstable state. Gando is the shortcut to Japan and to the east there is Vladivostok and near Jilin to the north so it is an important place to advance in all directions. Therefore, not to mention its importance during a war but during peace time it is a great place with many positive effects.

Gando is an economical treasure connected to the life line. South of the Duman the mountains are extremely rugged and the soil is poor but Gando’s soil is rich and the mountains are mild which made this area the base for many heroes. In this area, there is, not to mention gold, silver, coal, copper, iron and etc. Rich in minerals and many forests with plenty of vegetation makes this area suitable for hunting and having rivers this also makes a great fishing or farming which was the location for supplies for the Russians during the Russo-Japan war.

Gando is near land and sea which makes this area a active mining, forestry, farming, hunting and fishing area and place rich with goods. You can reach Hamkyungpukdo of Chosun and Wusuri of Russia. The trade area was to the north the Songhwa and to the south the Chosun shores, to the east Vladivostok and is a center for industry and economics. If a base was located in this area, there would be endless resources waiting to be developed. The cost and efforts would be small but it is a place that much profit can be made.

Gando is an important traffic way. It is a buffer between Korea, Japan and Russia. If you have power over the east and west it has the potential to give the power to control the north and south. China developed roads in the southern part of Jilim and also proceeded with cultivation. Jilims southwest frontier is safe because Duman’s critical defending points being obtained. China built a Western change rail that connects the Amrok and Duman to the borders of the Russian Littoral province.

This locational aspect makes this area according to history a area of conflict. Gando is a military fort, economic treasure and center of transportation so if you occupy this area it will be the stepping stone for the ruling Asia is thought by the northeastern countries. The guaranteeing the safety of the Northeast is like guaranteeing world peace and safety. Also it was said that,” The one that rules the northeast rules the world.

2) The modern meaning of Gando
In September 28th 2004, the North Korean Human rights act was passed unanimously by the US senate. This aids the North Korean defectors in functions of external groups and themselves, letting them seek refuge in the US and by giving them refugee status. This will be a chance to bring more interest upon the North Korean human rights to the international society for more interest and to inflict more pressure. The North Korean Human Rights Act means that the US, in reality, is able to participate in the North Korean defector issues and the many others that occur in the northeast.

In this situation, it is known that the People’s Liberation Army placed ten thousand troops in three areas of the Duman border and thirty thousand in the Amrok area to stop North Korean troops defecting in mass groups. The shifting of the Chinese troops in the Chinese border area has a purpose to stop the not knowing but liable to happen mass defection but also intentions to put pressure on the political power of Kim Jung il.

The North Korean Human Rights Law of the US and the Chinese placing troops in the Amrok and the Duman and other elements can’t be overseen when occurring in the northeast. The Chinese are not overlooking the US expansion of power to the Amrok and Duman with the help of Korea, the charged up Russia getting involved to balance the power of the US and Japan offering loans and economic projects approaching the northeast with memoirs of ruling the this region. Being aware of this, the 21st century China with economic power and military strength is trying to reclaim the historical greatness. But with the northeast political, economical and strategical advantages being better known, the interaction between the countries of the world is interconnected in an odd way. 

This is why Gando issues play an important role in the power shift. But in the 21st century, we don’t want conflict but to keep friendly relations and make a peaceful environment. Hence, friendly solutions between Korea and China are needed to keep the Gando issues becoming a historical issue.

In the 20th century, Russia and Japan made an issue of the Gando self government or cooperative government and in the 21st century, Japan is approaching the defectors human rights from North Korea directly and indirectly. The recent Gando issues are not problems with territory or borders of North Korea and China.

When the influence of the northeast nations expands and when having interest of Northeast Asia, Gando will become an important issue as well as the North Koreas movement. Because Gando like the strategic importance of the Korean peninsula is a strategically important location. Some might say that this area is the one of the most important areas in the world and is the land of Byung ga ji jaeng (strategic conflict).

Therefore, it can be said that Gando is in the verge of becoming a stage for practicing a new peace and harmony among the northeast nations that correlate to the situations of the 21st century. It needs to play this role. The first steps can begin by having more interests about the Gando issues. As most people know, this area was the starting point for not only the Sino-Japanese war, Russo Japan but the Second World War. If the northeast nations can’t cooperate to keep a balance, there is always a possibility for nuclear war. Therefore, The East Asian nations must newly recognize Gando as a stage of participation and balance.

Gando needs to be recognized as an important stage for exchange within the East Asian network that will enable us to protect the value and development of human rights which is a very important value of the 21st century. In order to keep peace and balance in the northeast, the stability of the Korean peninsula and becoming aware of the Gando issue and planning for the future is very important.

(1) The beginning 
The Gando issue became an issue between the two countries is in the rising of the Ching dynasty when they began to restrict people from living in the Aprok and Duman area. Afterwards, after the Ching did a survey of Mt. Baekdu for inhabited regions they set the the Baekdusan Junggyebi in 1712 and in the end of the 19 century they lifted the restriction (people from living on certain areas) and tried to make the already residing Koreans to their nationality. But, ‘To the west the Aprok, to the east Tomun’ is written on the Baekdusan Junggyebi. The Koreans at that time (Chosun dynasty) referred to the Tomun and Duman as different rivers while the Chinese considered them the same.

To clarify the borders, there were border meetings in 1885 and 1887. According to the Baekdusan Junggyebi, the Totoeh and Suktoeh was connected to the Tomun and the this was connected to the Songhwa which clearly shows that the Tomun and the Duman are different rivers. But both nations did’t come to a conclusion so there was no final agreement. In addition, Japan illegally stripped Chosun of its diplomatic rights in 1905 and railway building rights and mining rights were obtained in condition of the exchange of the Manchu Agreement and the Gando Agreement which resulted in Gando belonging to China.

The 1909 Gando Agreement should have been terminated in the Cairo and Potsdam Declaration. Also, in the China Japan peace treaty in 1952, it states that all treaties, agreements and conventions that were signed before 1941, will not be effective. But unlike the Manchu Agreement that had lost effect after Japan’s surrender, the Gando Agreement which was a settlement for exchange was still in effect and China had control over Gando. Later, there was some tension with China and North Korea in the Northern North Korean border which ended in 1962 with the signing of a Secret Change Agreement and exchange of the Border Protocol in 1964. This leads to set the border to the Aprok-Baekdusan Chunji and Yangbun-the Duman.

There are other complications with the Gando issue. There are complications with the ones who did and the ones who have to negotiate. 2 border meetings of the setting of the Baekdusan Junggyebi between Chosun and Ching, the illegal Eulsa Treaty between Japan and the Chosun Emipire, Manchu and Gando Agreement between China and Japan, the Secret border setting treaty, debating again of the Gando issue between Korea and China or the between the unified Korea and China and etc. concerning the negotiator and the specific contents is complicated.

But the Gando issue is not just an agenda that has to do with North Korea or South Korea. It is an issue that concerns Korean as a whole and China. Because there wasn’t a friendly and clear border negotiation between Korea and China. 

2) Specific examples 
The complexity of the Gando issues in specific views between Korea and China is very different. Even the location of Gando and the basic issues aren’t agreed upon.
Name of places are the by-product of human society. The formation and the usage, the change and the course of settlement lies the historical laws like the time setting, natural conditions, political trend and etc. In other words, I would like to stress that Gando is not just a name that someone made up. The Chinese claim that originally there was no name Gando but the Koreans settled in the area, just made up or further more is just a myth is related with the origin of the name. But Koreans claim that this area is traditionally and historically related to Korea thus making this stressing that Gando is a part of Korea.

The Chinese see Gando as the area of the Duman in the Pukan region or Yanbian region but the Koreans see Gando as the China’s northeast area bordered by the Amrok and the Duman. If you origin of the name Gando, you can see that there is also emphasis in the traditional historical fact and could be understood from this point of view. Korea defines this area as a vast otherside of the Amrok and the Duman where the Koreans used to reside when the Chinese limits the area to Yanbian. But according to the Gando Agreement, the issues that Gando is believed to be the North Gando where the Yan bian Korean autonomous prefecture and not including west Gando which is the other side of the Amrok.

China stresses that the time that Koreans when to live in Gando was after the 1870s. Many Koreans went north crossing the Amrok and the Duman and cultivated the land during the era when Korea had famine, harsh living and heavy taxes. But if you go through the Chinese history books, there is proof that Koreans have been living there since ancient times and there are theories that say they moved in the beginning of the Ming dynasty or the end of Ming and early Ching. Even though China has many theories they are setting this to the period of the 19th century as a policy.

Chinese see the Gando issues resulting from Korea changing the border the way they wanted with no concent and requesting the return of Gando. Another view is that the Chinese were generous in letting the Koreans reside in the Gando area as they please which resulted into the Gando issues. But when talking about the sovereignship in ones state, the important factor is who is the one who first occupied the territory and proof that there was a ruling nation of the area, the majorities’ culture and language and etc. This is an important factor when checking the validity of a territory by international law. According to the historic data of China, Japan and Korea, the Koreans first occupied Gando and had administrative authority of the area and great portions of the majority were Koreans. These are the clear facts that support Korea didn’t forge the border on his own.

Like what we have covered, the Gando issue starting from the name, the area and so forth is being argued overall between Korea and China showing many differences of opinion. This is why the Gando issue is more sensitive and complex than any other issue. This has been placed as a conflict issue. Also, the imperial nations of East Asia have northeastern Asia policies that will become issues of conflict. 

When Japan invaded eastern Asia with militarism, the slogan they had was ‘the Peace of East Asia’. The declarations of war in the Sino-Japanese war and Russo-Japan war , Korea-Japan annexation Treaty, requesting 21articles, the government statement of the Nogugyo incident in 1937 and documents of declaring war to England and the US in 1941 and etc. was for the peace of East Asia. Though Japan promoted peace in East Asia, they pursued they expanded to East Asia to obtain profit and people lines and their interests in Korea and the northeast became more actual. In 1910, Japan had invaded Korea. In 1921, in the Manchu and Mongol area (Northeast Asia), Japan’s special status showed that there was a close relation the welfare of Japan which was the reasons for Manchu mongolia Treaty. After Myungchiyooshin, Japan was directed on taking over the world. The fulfill this strategy, invading the northeastern area was a really important stepping stone in invading the continents.

For China, not only was the northeastern area was a war line for advancement but it was also the last line that they could retreat to. Historically though the northeastern area was an important military line, the Chinese didn’t consider this as a military line though it was important in that nature. Instead, it was considered as life line because occupying this area was vital to them. The northeastern area was a natural military line for China and also the life line. If China couldn’t keep this line, then there is no hope in defending the north. In history according to geographical views, it could be said that the northeast is China’s life line. If there is no northeast there is no China.

There is close relation with the profit line and the life line of China and Japan. Therefore historically, this is the region that nations met when expanding their power. ‘This is the Asian Balkan peninsula and the center of war in the northeast.’ When there is a shift of power in the countries in the northeast, peace is broken. Will the northeastern (including Gando) interests of this region overcome conflict?

We all long for peace in Asia. A peaceful Asia allows us to have calmness and stability in our lives. However, from time to time peace is interrupted due to a failure to resolve conflicts that exist under the surface. Although there are definitely elements of conflict that persist in Asia, some do not yet rise to the surface because of the difference in power among countries, which in this case we may call it a ‘disguised peace.’ A seemingly peaceful situation may actually be a volcano about to erupt. Certainly, conflict among countries should be resolved through diplomatic dialogue, because it shakes the lives of the entire people. Among the many issues that obstruct peace in Asia, such as racial and religious conflict, the issue of Gando (presently the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture) is often overlooked. The Gando issue can be said to be both a territorial and a border issue between Korea and China. However, this issue is not just a matter between the two countries. In the early 20th century, Gando was an area which caught the interests of Korea, China, Russia and Japan. All of these countries have competed over Gando as both a strategic location and a traffic center, in order to hold and expand their influence in the northeast.

After the victory of the Russo-Japanese war, Japan advanced to Gando where Russia’s influence faded away. In 1905, Japan deprived the Korean Empire of its diplomatic rights through the Eulsa Treaty. However, this treaty had numerous procedural defects in terms of a lack of delegation and ratification, as well as Japan’s violation of the law in signing the treaty. Therefore, it is obvious that the Eulsa Treaty could not be valid because it was at fault in procedures from the start. On the basis of this treaty, Japan intervened between Korea and China concerning the important diplomatic issue of Gando, and signed ‘the Gando Treaty’ that handed over the sovereignty of Gando to China. On the condition of Gando becoming a part of China, Japan expectedly made China sign ‘the Manchu Treaty’ that guaranteed many rights for Japan, such as a right to construct railroads and to mine coal in the northeastern territory. These two treaties between China and Japan were signed on September 4, 1909, as each country consented to the agreement in exchange for the treaty of the other party.

Historically, China and Korea have had tension concerning control of this general area since 1712, around the time when Mt. Baekdu Stele was erected to demarcate the border between the two countries. However, the territorial conflict did not escalate until 1882 when China suddenly evicted the Koreans who had long occupied and cultivated Gando. To resolve this conflict, China and Korea had diplomatic negotiations in 1885 and in 1887, but didnn’t reach an agreement. Later, Gando was given to China by Japan, which had already taken diplomatic rights away from Korea, with no consideration of Korea’s rights and interests in the area.

The Gando Treaty continues to create conflict in Asia and should be considered null and void because of its many faulty aspects. The treaty is invalid by international law because Korea’s (a third party) territorial rights were transferred to China by Japan on the basis of the Eulsa treaty, which itself was illegal and invalid. Also, all other treaties made by Imperial Japan, except for the Gando Treaty, became invalid with the unconditional surrender of Japan in 1945. Even the Manchu Treaty was invalidated, yet China has effectively controlled Gando on the basis of the Gando Treaty, which was exchanged for the Manchu Treaty. In addition, ‘the Treaty on Basic Relations between the Republic of Korea and Japan’ in 1965 states that “It is confirmed that all treaties or agreements concluded between the Empire of Japan and the Empire of Korea on or before August 22, 1910 are already null and void.” Also,’the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties’ in 1969 states that “A treaty does not create either obligations or rights for a third State without its consent.” It is quite clear that the Gando Treaty is not valid in any sense.

The Gando issue, which includes a history of illegal acts of imperialism and the invalid treaties of imperial expansion, has yet to be resolved. What should we do about this issue? To cut the chain of conflict we should engage in a peaceful negotiation. Dealing with the Gando issue may appear to foster continued conflict, but in actuality it lays the groundwork for peace in Asia. Do we truly want peace in Asia? Resolving the Gando issue is an important step to building paths to peace in Asia, because of the interest and involvement of several important Asian countries in the region. For a true peace, we should eliminate the elements of conflict. The best way to do this is to have peaceful negotiations about important issues such as Gando. To achieve this goal, Asians should work together. The goal of peace in Asia is the primary reason why I have discussed the Gando issue and emphasized the importance of negotiations. Without a peaceful settlement of this issue, a peaceful Asia will not come.