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| China-Japan-Koreas |
| Tokyo riles Seoul with diplomat's comments |
| 2005-05-26 |
| heh. SEOUL South Korea demanded Thursday that Japan discipline its No. 2 diplomat for reportedly saying that his government could not share intelligence on North Korea because Washington no longer trusts Seoul. The reported comments, made by Vice Foreign Minister Shotaro Yachi of Japan to a group of South Korean lawmakers in Tokyo on May 11, were revealed this week in Seoul, triggering a diplomatic flap that has pushed South Korea's already uncomfortable relations with Japan to a new low. The South Korean Foreign Ministry called in the Japanese ambassador, Toshiyuki Takano, and demanded an apology on Thursday. South Korea warned that bilateral relations could be "seriously affected" barring appropriate actions. According to South Korean politicians, Yachi said: "Since the United States does not have sufficient trust in South Korea, Japan finds it a problem to share information it has received from Washington with South Korea." He also reportedly said: "The United States and Japan stand to the right, and China and North Korea to the left. South Korea appears to be moving from the center to the left." Yachi's comments illuminated the growing uneasiness between South Korea and its two main allies: the United States and Japan. Although the three allies publicly deny any friction, experts noted, and Seoul officials acknowledge to a certain degree, that South Korea is going through a major and often contentious reshaping of its relations with Japan and the United States on key issues like North Korea's nuclear weapons program, Japan's colonial past and Seoul's military ties with Washington. |
| Posted by:too true |
| #10 So the Japanese diplomat repeats what the Americans said, and SKorea is mad at Japan?!? They're reacting like Junior High (13-year old) schoolgirls. On the other hand, safer to shout at Japan than at the country pulling its soldiers back from the 49th parallel. But, to my naive American sensibility, equally face-losing for the one shouting. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2005-05-26 21:57 |
| #9 Yachi apparently made the mistake of speaking the truth. Good man; Rumsfeld's been leaving that job open lately. |
| Posted by: someone 2005-05-26 21:55 |
| #8 I turn em inside out - for MY pleasure LOL |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-05-26 21:11 |
| #7 Or Prophylactic Option. I prefer ribbed. |
| Posted by: .com 2005-05-26 20:31 |
| #6 What's that, the Onan Option? |
| Posted by: Dave D. 2005-05-26 20:10 |
| #5 contraceptive diplomacy - pull out completely - leave nothing behind |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-05-26 20:01 |
| #4 It's that cognitive dissonance thingy, I guess... "Whaddya mean we can't march around screeching and bashing the US, spying against them, making up false charges against their troops, and electing The Moronic Reconciliation Party goofballs without pissing them off? It's our right! They gave it to us when they rescued our asses 55+ yrs ago! Why, if they leave, it'll hurt our economy! And if they don't import from us, we'll implode! Holy shit - if they don't protect us with the trip-wire of US troops, the NorKies will invade and enslave us! Whaddya mean it's too late? Oops." |
| Posted by: .com 2005-05-26 19:40 |
| #3 According to South Korean politicians, Yachi said: "Since the United States does not have sufficient trust in South Korea, Japan finds it a problem to share information it has received from Washington with South Korea." He also reportedly said: "The United States and Japan stand to the right, and China and North Korea to the left. South Korea appears to be moving from the center to the left." Uncomfortable, yes. True words, yes. When SKor wants to appease the Norks, these are the unintended consequence. Before you piss on your allies, better think it through first. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2005-05-26 18:52 |
| #2 So the poor Seoul's in purgatory? |
| Posted by: Mike 2005-05-26 16:16 |
| #1 I believed it the first time I read it. The repetitions did not convince me further. |
| Posted by: Mrs. Davis 2005-05-26 15:10 |