China Releases Three Detained Japanese: One “Intruder” Remains in Custody

I would wager to bet that the free world would condemn an espionage charge. China would be under a lot of pressure to release Takahashi, and China’s image would harmed almost irreparably (moreso than it already is now, of which we’ve yet to even see all of the fallout, yet).

LOL, what a humorous move by China. I never saw this one coming…

“You kept one of our Captains? we’ll keep one of your Citizens too! How u like them apples?”

Kind of giving japan a taste of their own medicine, except they didnt evoke it in the first place.

I remember five years ago when Newsweek published an article called “A lonely Japan.”

http://www.newsweek.com/2005/10/30/a-very-lonely-japan.html#

To summarize, the writer, writes a compendium regarding Japan and its soured relations with its neighbors, citing “lack of wartime resentment.” Ms. Caryl goes on to mention how Japan is slow to integrate with the rest of Asia, particularly China, because it cannot come to grips with it’s past. While not exactly a scathing diatribe compared to previous Newsweek publications, I chortled about how the perception of China from five years ago has taken a complete turn as the world entered a new decade. A “peaceful China” compared to “war-criminal Japan,” this Senkaku incident shows which is infinitely more civilized in international conduct post WWII. It is interesting to note how even the most Sino-phillic foreigners are now starting to come to terms that China’s rise is far from peaceful. This Senkaku incident is a fine example of strong armed Chinese international conduct and we can expect more of this to happen in the near future, not only against Japan, but other neighboring countries. China has set the new precedent and the times of conciliatory Chinese international relations has come to an end. Indeed, as Ms. Caryl suggests, Japan needs to make itself less “lonely.” She now has a fine opportunity to strengthen Asian ties, trying to work alongside the other Asian countries to counter increasing aggression and hostility from the new bogeyman of Asia, China.

Note: I wonder what the Korean perspective of all this is. Anti-Japanese rhetoric is very common in Korea, but increasingly, more outrages have been caused by China (refusing to hold NK responsible for the sinking of the corvette Cheonan) and border altercations. Is South Korea going to continue hating on Japan and stick close to China, or will it be willing to maintain an alliance with the US and see Japan as a potential ally in opposing the Middle Kingdom? Both choices are tough, banding with the new bully of Asia, or working together with Japan, a traditional enemy/rival.

The Chinese foreign affairs spokeswoman gives me a boner