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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 25-Sep-2010
25-Sep-10 News -- Japan kowtows to China over trawler captain

Web Log - September, 2010

25-Sep-10 News -- Japan kowtows to China over trawler captain

Sarkozy declares victory over striking labor unions

Japan kowtows to China over arrest of fishing trawler captain

Denying that he's been pressured by the government in Tokyo, a Japanese prosecutor announced on Friday the decsion to release a Chinese fishing boat captain who had been held for two weeks

He said the decision came after "careful consideration of future Japan-China relations" and the repercussions caused by the incident, according to the Japan Times.

However, it also came a day after the Chinese arrested four Japanese contractors in China. The Japanese have had no contact with the abducted contractors, according to Yomiuri (Japan).

A survey by the Mainichi Times (Japan) indicates, not surprisingly, that many foreign media outlets are saying that Japan is bowing to China's pressure.

According to the official Chinese news service Xinhua, Japan has not yet done enough to atone for its action. The demand from China's Foreign Ministry is that the Japanese must apologize and pay compensation for the incident. "Such an act seriously infringed upon China's territorial sovereignty and violated the human rights of Chinese citizens. Japan's detention, investigation or any form of judiciary measures for the Chinese trawler and fishermen are unlawful and invalid."

The Japanese had arrested the fishing trawler captain because his boat was fishing in waters surrounding the Senkaka Islands (called the Diaoyu Islands by the Chinese), and those waters are claimed by both countries. The statement from China's Foreign Ministry claims that the Diaoyu Islands and surrounding islets have been "China's inherent territory since the ancient time and China possesses undisputable sovereignty over the islands." It adds, "The stance of the Chinese side has not and will not change."

A new statement by Japan's Foreign Ministry indicates that a new confrontation may be close by. The Wall Street Journal (Access) reports that Japan's new Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara has warned China against starting drilling in a gas field near the disputed islands, saying that Japan would take countermeasures if evidence of Chinese gas extraction work is confirmed.

Aerial photographs taken by Japan's Self-Defense Forces revealed that the Chinese had transferred some "equipment" to the gas field, according to the article.

In my opinion, this whole situation is a really big deal.

Sarkozy declares victory over striking labor unions

A bill to raise France's legal retirement age from 60 to 62 triggered nationwide strikes by France's public service unions on Thursday.

President Nicolas Sarkozy claimed victory after government estimates indicated the size of the protest was smaller than a similar protest staged on Septeber 7, according to the Telegraph. However, the unions disputed this finding, and claimed that the protests were in fact larger.

The next two days of strikes and demonstrations will be October 2 and October 12. According to Bloomberg, the unions chose the Oct 2 date because it's a Saturday, and will therefore permit more people to participate in the demonstrations and protests.

This whole situation has become something of an international joke because French labor unions are demanding that the retirement age remain at 60, while other European countries have increased their retirement ages to 65 or even 67.

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"China’s military spending is growing so fast that it has overtaken strategy," says a China expert from Singapore. "The young officers are taking control of strategy and it is like young officers in Japan in the 1930s. They are thinking what they can do, not what they should do. This is very dangerous. They are on a collision course with a US-dominated system." Presumably, the 'young officers' correspond to America's Generation-X. Telegraph

Friction is rising between China and its Asian neighbors, with the result that the United States is beginning to look better and better to the neighbors. NY Times.

Three people -- two Russian cosmonauts and one American astronaut -- were stuck in space on Friday, when a Russian space craft that was supposed to bring them all back to earth failed to undock from the International Space Station. It's believed that the problem is in a sensor, and they will try again over the weekend. Ria Novosti

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is meeting with Palestinian and Israeli leaders to try to prevent total collapse of the Mideast peace talks when the settlement freeze expires on Sunday. Reuters

Britain is facing a new terrorism threat: A revival of Irish-related terrorism by dissident republican groups trying to copy the Provisional IRA (Irish Republican Army). However, this threat is not as great as the threat from international terrorism. BBC

The United States and South Korea will hold a new round of joint naval exercises, to last for five days. The exercises will emphasize anti-submarine warfare. VOA

(Comments: For reader comments, questions and discussion, see the 25-Sep-10 News -- Japan kowtows to China over trawler captain thread of the Generational Dynamics forum. Comments may be posted anonymously.) (25-Sep-2010) Permanent Link
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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 25-Sep-2010 25-Sep-10 News -- Japan kowtows to China over trawler captain

Japan kowtows to China over arrest of fishing trawler captain

Sarkozy declares victory over striking labor unions

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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 25-Sep-2010
25-Sep-10 News -- Japan kowtows to China over trawler captain