Japanese officials try to cover up China's actions...

[cstaylor]

Consulate issued false report on Chinese response: FM

The diplomats gave false explanations about their handling of the case apparently because they were afraid that their failure to put the North Korean asylum seekers under their protection would incur a backlash in Japan.

Talk about understatement of the century. What a bunch of cowards.

[ultragaijin]

Diplomats in the consular office said that "nobody" saw the Chinese police hauling the five North Koreans away.

Yup. They've obviously never heard of the cutting-edge technology we call "photography".

I guess they ship the stupid ones off to work in China.

[cstaylor]

...the right-wing in this country will take advantage of the situation by pointing out that without a credible military presence, foreign bullies like China can abuse Japan's sovreignty at will.

I still wonder if this is part of some elaborate plot...

[ultragaijin]

Originally Posted by cstaylor

I still wonder if this is part of some elaborate plot...

Been watching 'Conspiracy Theory' again? Or just reading history?

[cstaylor]

Originally Posted by ultragaijin

Been watching 'Conspiracy Theory' again? Or just reading history?

Now that you mention it, I was reading American Caesar last night... and it did just enter the portion where the North Koreans pour over the 38th parallel...

[cstaylor]

Japan Protests China's Arrest of Koreans at Consulate
And the key quote from the article:

The Japanese can be seen picking up the Chinese officers' hats, which had been knocked off

Oh, that looks really good... as if China needed any more ego-puffing. "Thanks for picking up my hat after I invaded your embassy"

[ultragaijin]

Japan's 'honour and dignity' damaged by China consulate intrusion

Oh shit. When you start hearing words like 'honour and dignity' bandied about, that means somebody is looking for a fight.

[cstaylor]

On Thursday Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Kong Quan said the police had acted, "under the spectre of the international fight against terrorism", to protect consular staff.

I don't know what's worse... China's pathetic attempts to cover its ass, or the rising storm that may come of it.

Anyone have some 2,000,000 sunblock I can borrow?

[ultragaijin]

'Honour and dignity' sounds like a fuckin' Tom Clancy novel.

So does 'Rising Storm'.

[ultragaijin]

Follow-up:

Japan will allow detained N. Koreans to leave for 3rd state

''An option that we definitely cannot allow will be their extradition to the North. The second worst-case scenario is that China releases them in Shenyang'' in Liaoning Province, northern China, the Japanese source said.