China Cuts Some High Level Talks with Japan Over Detained Trawler Captain
September 19th, 2010Via: Bloomberg:
China has pledged to take “strong” action to force Japan to release the captain of a fishing boat held since Sept. 7 as state television reported relations between the countries have been “seriously damaged.”
China’s government is demanding that Japan unconditionally release the captain, whose detention was extended to Sept. 29, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on its website today. The remaining 14 members of the boat’s crew were released several days after the Chinese vessel collided with two Japanese Coast Guard ships near a group of disputed islands in the East China Sea.
“China will take strong reactionary measures if necessary and Japan will have to bear all consequences,” Ma Chaoxu, a Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson, said in the statement.
China’s ties with Japan have been “seriously damaged” after Japan’s decision to extend the captain’s detention, state television reported, citing the foreign affairs ministry. The islands, known as Diaoyu in Chinese and Senkaku in Japanese, are claimed by both countries. Sovereignty over the area would give the holder rights to undersea gas and oil reserves.
China has suspended ministerial exchanges with Japan, halted talks on increasing flights and postponed a meeting on coal, state television said.
Japan’s utter lack of any diplomatic skill, either tactically or strategically, never fails to amaze. i shouldn’t be amazed though, because it’s been like this since… the first world war.
diplomacy is all about doing things in ways that will benefit one’s country’s long-term interests.
doh.
why do they need to lock up this fishing boat captain for weeks on end without charge?
doh.
because they legally can in Japan.
doh.
if there is sufficient evidence to charge him, do so and release him on bail and don’t let him leave the country. but this run-of-the-mill “we’ll rough him up till he signs a full confession” tactic (used in 99% of criminal cases in Japan) is not going to end well, methinks.