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Australia-Japan Whaling Case in International Court
Public hearings are under way in The Hague as Australia and Japan take their fight over whaling to the International Court of Justice.
Japanese Whaling vessel (Photo: Customs and Border Protection Service, Commonwealth of Australia/Wiki Commons)
An Australian government spokesman has described Japan’s ongoing program of scientific research as “Commercial whaling under the lab coat of science.”
It involves catching and killing up to a 1,000 whales every year.
The Australian government believes the Japanese program is a cover for commercial whaling, which is illegal under international law.
Both countries have come to the international court in the Hague to settle the issue.
Anchor Marco Werman talks to Noriyuki Shikata, who is the spokesman for the Japanese delegation.