Posted on 05/14/2002 8:07:32 AM PDT by AmericanInTokyo
Breaking. Worldwide implications.
Kyodo news reports in Japanese that several embassy sources from the Japan Embassy in Beijing reveal that Ambassador Anan from Japan had set down the policy on 8 May at 11 a.m. local time China, to the Japanese Embassy and all consulates in China that if there were any defector refugees from Communist North Korea rushing into any of their diplomatic facilities, Japanese diplomatic staff and security were to consider them "suspicious individuals" (fushinsha) and to be immediately ejected (tsuiho) forthwith. It is reported the Ambassador said if there were any problems later, he would 'take responsibility'.
Kyodo then reports that no sooner had the Ambassador made this policy decision statement that approximately 4 hours later, the 'Shenyang Incident' took place (North Koreans made it inside a Japanese diplomatic facility but were brutally removed by Red Chinese police with literally no Japanese protest--as captured on video).
Kyodo theorizes that not only is China in hot international water over their treatment of defectors as seen worldwide on TV, now Japan is going to be the target of international questions and irritation over this policy stated on the local level by the Japanese Ambassador. Breaking fast.
Which are............
More trade with China.
Stated in the article.
Now the whole Japanese parliament is going to get into this fracas, with hearings before the full House, and the DP and other opposition parties leading the charge against the LDP/Koizumi and their pathetic handling of this.
You are right. More trade. Peace. Harmony.
I can think of a couple. First off, it means that the Japanese had advance notice of the planned defections; and second, it suggests that the Japanese had coordinated with the Chinese for their removal.
One can think of a variety of ways that advance notice was available to the Japanese -- to me it suggests that the Chinese have a mole among the North Koreans.
The apparent coordination undicates that China gave Japan a heads-up and a warning/threat of action. One would be interested to know the reasoning behind this -- what interests were served by essentially sending the defectors off to be executed.
There's also the question of why China should care about North Korean defectors. It suggests more-than-average collusion between NK and China.
The defectors have also gone to other embassies, too, including ours. The action at the Japanese embassy has the earmarks of a warning/example for other countries and their relationship to North Korean defectors.
Overall, China's concern over non-Chinese defectors seems quite strange. There's something unsettling about this -- like they're worried about the possibility of certain NK defectors who might be in China. Maybe folks who have detailed knowledge of NK's WMD program, or possible war plans.
It pleaded for freedom and not to be sent back.
The Japanese news today states an Embassy source as saying 'they did not understand the letter' when it was presented to them.
The letter was prepared by a South Korean human rights undergroup group which is trying to help the North Koreans.
My guess is there may not have been an advance tip off, because the gate was open one meter with no barbed wire (opposed to how it is today), but that the Ambassador's 'send back' policy, coupled with poor reflexes when it comes to Japanese quick thinking/crisis management (seen it hundreds of times on a personal level) and finally, perhaps a local Chinese guard in their booth on their side not helping the refugees, that the situation turned out as it did.
A disgrace all around, IMHO. I hope the opposition parties in Japan hammer the authorities good and get to the bottom of it.
It pleaded for freedom and not to be sent back.
The Japanese news today states an Embassy source as saying 'they did not understand the letter' when it was presented to them.
The letter was prepared by a South Korean human rights underground group which is trying to help the North Koreans.
My guess is there may not have been an advance tip off, because the gate was open one meter with no barbed wire (opposed to how it is today), but that the Ambassador's 'send back' policy, coupled with poor reflexes when it comes to Japanese quick thinking/crisis management (seen it hundreds of times on a personal level) and finally, perhaps a local Chinese guard in their booth on their side not helping the refugees, that the situation turned out as it did.
A disgrace all around, IMHO. I hope the opposition parties in Japan hammer the authorities good and get to the bottom of it.
At any rate, the defectors who chose the US Consulate next door, and scaled the wall, are now on their way to freedom and SOUTH KOREA!
Pity for their separated colleagues in jail in Beijing.
After all, it is the Chicoms country and they would certainly be likely to have some advanced intelligence on the attempted defection.
Apparently the ChiComs alarted Ambassador Anan to these North Koreans, probably with the exagerated concern about presumed criminals. He was hoodwinked and fell for the ChiCom concern.
My guess.
Yep. Very little USA coverage. The US media for all intents and purposes reeks when it comes to Asia and South Asia coverage.
Of course, it is embarrassing for the both of those countries (Japan and China) involved. China looks its usual jackboot brute self and Japan looks like a bumbling, castrated idiot. China looks like they have rigged up an underground deal to send the five detainees off to a third country soon, and not send them to Pyongyang for execution. that is what is coming out at this hour.
This could bring down the Koizumi administration. Not that he isn't close to being on his way out the door anyhow. He promised too much, delivered too little.
Unfortunately, the media is grooming Ishihara as his successor. And you and I both know what THAT will mean.
By mid-2004 at least.
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