The oceans occupy 70% of the Earth's surface area. Much of it is called the high seas, where many nations and companies engage in a wide variety of activities. Therefore, there are actually many international problems and incidents related to the oceans. How do news organizations report to us about problems that occur in the oceans, which should be regarded as a resource common to all humankind? This article explores Japan's media coverage of the oceans.

Constitution of the Sea

Before going into the main topic, let us first confirm what kind of waters are the high seas. According to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, also known as the "Constitution of the Sea," which sets forth various rules concerning the sea, the high seas are the waters of any nation, excluding its exclusive economic zones and territorial waters. Unlike exclusive economic zones and territorial seas, the high seas themselves are not subject to the sovereignty of any state. Therefore, all nations are free to operate in the high seas as long as they give reasonable consideration to the rights of others. However, there are often disputes between states over the boundary between the exclusive economic zone and the high seas. In addition, many states engage in various activities on the high seas based on the "principle of freedom of the high seas," which has given rise to various international problems on the high seas. Let us examine this in more detail in the following paragraphs.

Marine Environmental Issues

Many environmental problems are occurring in the oceans, and various international efforts are underway to address them. For example, sea level rise is one of these problems. Global warming is causing ocean temperatures to rise, which in turn is causing glaciers in Antarctica and Greenland to melt and sea levels to rise.Happening.In 2014, the water level reached its highest level since satellite records began in 1993.Approx. 6.6 cmalso rose. Even today, the annualApprox. 3.2mmThe sea level is continuing to rise by as much as In addition, in small island nations, the effects of sea level rise arebe of great magnitude....the Solomon Islands, a country consisting of hundreds of islands. In the Solomon Islands, a country consisting of hundreds of islands, five islands have already disappeared due to sea level rise and erosion. Even if the islands have not sunk, the rising sea level has destroyed farmland and living conditions, forcing islanders to migrateThere's also an island.The The effects of sea level rise are not only felt in island nations, but also in the coastal areas of other countries. Rising sea levels increase the damage caused by flooding and high waves during storms.Pointed out.The world is in the midst of a major economic crisis. These environmental problems may have advanced to a point where we humans no longer have any control over them. Recent studies have shown that even if climate change can be controlled, sea level rise can no longer be stopped.Some report.The following is a list of the most common problems with the

Melting Arctic ice Photo: Christopher Michel / Flickr [CC BY 2.0]

International problems in the oceans are not limited to global warming. The problem of pollution of the oceans is also becoming more serious and attracting international attention. Every year1,000~ (after a number N)2,00010,000 tonsIt is said that as much as 1.5 million tons of garbage is dumped into the ocean. Plastic debris accounts for a large portion of this total. The plastic debris present in the ocean as a whole is26ten thousand9,000ton (now usu. a metric ton, i.e. 1,000kg)It is estimated that the amount of plastic floating in the oceans is as high as 1.5 times the amount of plastic in the world's oceans. These plastics floating in the ocean are not only visible, but also include very small microplastics, also known as "mermaid tears. The sources of this microplastic are many and varied. Microplastics in soaps, toothpaste, and cosmetics are carried into the ocean, and in other cases, large pieces of plastic debris discarded in the ocean are reduced in size by waves and become microplastics. When birds and fish accidentally eat such plastics and other debris, marine life is directlyAt risk.Another problem is that phytoplankton and other organisms that eat microplastics are taken into the bodies of other marine organisms through the food chain.

Plastic waste is not the only cause of pollution in the ocean. Environmental problems caused by oil pollution are also an important marine issue. When oil pollution is mentioned, most people think of oil spills caused by shipping accidents. However, such accidental oil spills are only a small part of the oil pollution problem.10% (of the total)The oil pollution is the largest cause of oil spills from onshore sources. The most significant source of oil pollution is oil spills from land-based sources, such as used gasoline and industrial waste. This oil pollution, like plastic pollution, has a negative impact on marine life.

Trash washed up on the beach Photo: The Photographer / wikimedia commons [CC BY-SA 3.0]

The marine environment is threatened not only by pollution, but also by overfishing. Currently, the number of fishing vessels needed to sustainably operate fisheries is approximately2 to 4 timesIt is estimated that as many as 1,000 fishing vessels are engaged in fishing. How did this overfishing come about? One reason is the lack of regulation of fishing. This is especially true on the high seas. Illegal fishing is also said to be a cause. Illegal fishing is estimated to cost between $10 billion and $24 billion annually.It has been speculated.The tuna are being overfished. This overfishing has led to the endangerment of marine organisms such as tuna. In addition, the decrease in tuna and other organisms at the top of the food chain disturbs the balance of marine life, resulting in the decrease of smaller organisms at the bottom of the food chain and hindering the growth of seaweed, coral reefs, etc.Concerned.The following is a list of the most common problems with the

Tuna in the market Photo: Stewart Butterfield / Flickr [CC BY 2.0]

maritime security

There are many security issues on the high seas. Disputes over the waters are one such example. The South China Sea is a prime example, with several countries claiming partial or comprehensive sovereignty (more details below).

The Arctic is also a complicated issue. Global warming is melting the ice, and new sea lanes are being developed, but the situation involves several nations over not only the sea lanes but also the mineral resources that lie beneath the ice.He's up.There are several other disputes over the high seas.

Another problem is piracy, which had been thought to have declined since 2009, but is now back.They are beginning to increase.It is a major problem near the waters off Somalia, a key trade route, the Strait of Malacca in Asia, and West Africa. In the Strait of Malacca, the number of piracy incidents increased in 2017 compared to 2016, according to theReported.... A security company has been hired as part of the anti-piracy measures, but a large weapons warehouse, supposedly for security purposes, has been set up at sea, taking advantage of the freedom of the high seas,Considered problematic.Human rights issues related to fishing have also arisen. Forced labor and human trafficking at sea continue to occur.Some countries..　The refugee crisis is another issue that is hard to overlook; just in the first half of January 2018,200 peopleNearby refugees are believed to have died on the Mediterranean Sea on their way to Europe. In addition, drugs, weapons, and other items restricted by economic sanctions are also being transported on the high seas.

Ships enforcing law against pirates Photo: U.S. Navy

What about the news coverage in Japan?

Thus, various international issues are arising on the vast oceans. Here, what kind of coverage does the Japanese press give to these international issues on the oceans? In the following, we analyze international coverage of the oceans in Japan in 2016.

The total number of articles in the morning editions of the Asahi, Yomiuri, and Mainichi newspapers' international news coverage in 2016 used in this study was 17,501 (*1). (*1) Of these, 468 articles were analyzed, including those related to the various maritime issues mentioned earlier and those related to events on the high seas, which we defined as "maritime coverage. The following graph shows the number of articles analyzed.

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As can be seen from the graph, the majority of reports on the sea were related to the South China Sea. Although there were many international reports on the refugee issue, most of them were about the policies of various countries to accept refugees, and the number of reports on refugee issues, especially in the Mediterranean Sea, remained low. The "Other" category in the graph includes reports on the Black Sea, the East China Sea, the South Pacific, and the waters surrounding Hawaii, but the number of reports was very small, with only one article each. All of these reports on waters other than the South China Sea, with the exception of the report on the South Pacific, were related to the naval activities of other countries (the report on the South Pacific was related to the earthquake). (The coverage of the South Pacific was related to earthquakes.) There was very little coverage of fisheries and environmental issues related to the oceans throughout the year, indicating that these issues are not considered important in Japan. Thus, it is clear that maritime coverage in Japan is extremely focused on the South China Sea. The following section discusses the causes of the bias in maritime coverage in Japan.

Why is the South China Sea in the spotlight?

The South China Sea, especially around the Nansha Islands, is believed to hold many resources. Therefore, many East Asian countries, such as China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Brunei, claim rights in the South China Sea.Competing.Japan is not directly involved in these discussions over rights in the South China Sea. Japan is not directly involved in these discussions over rights in the South China Sea. However, Japan's attention to developments in other countries is evident from the fact that the aforementioned reports are biased. In particular, Japanese policymakers are closely watching China's moves in the South China Sea. territorial disputes in the South China Sea between Japan and China.Because they take into account... Japan's awareness of China can also be read from its media coverage: of the 424 reports on the South China Sea in the international press in 2016, 306 of them, in fact, were related to China. It is likely that Japan's concern about the danger of China's growing influence in the South China Sea is what led to this large volume of coverage.

Warships training at sea in the South China Sea Photo: U.S. Pacific Command [.CC BY-NC-ND 2.0]

Is there only one ocean?

Japan's perceived threat to China. This presence has created a bias in media coverage of maritime issues. It is true that the issue of the South China Sea is a major concern for Japan's security and is attracting attention from other countries. However, can we continue to focus our coverage on the South China Sea, as is currently the case? Shouldn't the rising sea level caused by global warming, the problem of pollution in the sea, and the destruction of ecosystems due to excessive fishing also be issues that require attention? There are many other maritime security issues besides the South China Sea. Some of these problems may have already advanced to a stage where they are beyond our human control. We must consider what we can do before it is too late. However, I believe that biased media coverage is depriving us of the opportunity to think about solutions to these pressing issues. The vast oceans occupy most of the earth's surface. The South China Sea, of course, is not the only ocean that should be considered a resource common to all humankind. I hope that the role given to news reporting will be fulfilled in order to pass on the beauty of the oceans to future generations.

*1GNV Data Analysis Methods [PDF].See also

Writer:Tomoko Kitamura

Graphic:Tomoko Kitamura