Mulboyne wrote:On learning of Saito's gaffe, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed regret in a statement on Friday. It also lodged a strong protest. Saito apologized and said he expressed his personal opinion on the status of Taiwan, which does not represent Japan's government stance on the question.
You've got to wonder why any government would stand by a diplomat who is willing to express "his personal opinion" on a sensitive issue pertaining to the country to which he was assigned when that opinion contrasts with the official government position. Sounds like grounds for immediate dismissal to me.
