Curt 1 Posted August 24, 2012 Share Posted August 24, 2012 South Korea on Thursday returned a personal letter sent to President Lee Myung Bak by Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda over Lee's recent visit to the Takeshima islands and his remarks about the Emperor. According to the Yonhap news agency, the South Korean government returned the letter via registered mail after Japan's Foreign Ministry refused to let a South Korean Embassy official enter the ministry to return the letter. South Korea's returning the letter is quite unusual in terms of diplomatic protocol, and will likely further strain relations between the two countries. In the letter, Noda expressed regret over Lee's recent visit to the Takeshima islands and his remarks seeking an apology from the Emperor to victims of Japan's colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula before and during World War II. Noda sent the letter to Seoul through the the South Korean Embassy in Tokyo on Aug. 17. On Wednesday, a South Korean government source said the reason Seoul decided to reject Noda's personal letter is that the contents of the letter were "not true"--Lee has visited "Dokdo" and not "Takeshima," the source said. The Takeshima islands are known as Dokdo in South Korea. According to the Yonhap news agency, a senior official of the South Korean presidential office said, "It makes no sense to reply to comments that are not true." The news agency said the South Korean government has discussed other ways to deal with Noda's letter, such as making no reaction to it or rebutting Noda's remarks in a return letter. However, after consulting experts in international law and diplomacy, the South Korean government decided to stray from diplomatic protocol. The news agency quoted a South Korean government source as saying: "Even if our response [to Japan] is seen as diplomatically rude, there is no reason to change our principles on this matter. If we see this issue from the other side, Japan also has gone against diplomatic protocol in sending [Noda's] personal letter." Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura expressed concern over the issue. "Regarding diplomatic protocol, I can't think of a letter sent from a national leader to another leader being returned," he said at a press conference Thursday morning. A senior Foreign Ministry official said, "The fact that South Korea has decided to take an unusual step in response [to Noda's letter] may prove that the nation is shocked by Japan's objections [to Lee's remarks and actions]." Almost comes across as childish playground squabbles doesn't it? Link to post Share on other sites
big-will 7 Posted August 24, 2012 Share Posted August 24, 2012 What kicked all this lot off? That China/Japan island thing by Ishihara? Link to post Share on other sites
Slippery Jim 65 Posted August 24, 2012 Share Posted August 24, 2012 It goes back 60 years, to the San Francisco peace treaty and end of the Allied occupation of Japan. Lot of background on Wikipedia if you're very very bored... Link to post Share on other sites
OBLONG 0 Posted August 24, 2012 Share Posted August 24, 2012 I guess he meant why the suddenly increased fuss of late..... Link to post Share on other sites
Slippery Jim 65 Posted August 24, 2012 Share Posted August 24, 2012 Ah! Think last year Shimane Prefecture -- Takeshima falls under Shimane -- made some kind of declaration or something that got folks in Seoul out of joint. This spat crops up every now and then when some hotheads on one side or another decide relations are proceeding too smoothly. Link to post Share on other sites
Nisoko 6 Posted September 15, 2012 Share Posted September 15, 2012 I bet Ishihara is pleased with the shitstorm he seems to have started Link to post Share on other sites
pie-eater 207 Posted September 15, 2012 Share Posted September 15, 2012 He just wants everyone to be friends. Link to post Share on other sites
fukdane 2 Posted September 16, 2012 Share Posted September 16, 2012 There seems to be a lot of anger in China right now. I can see this flying out of control. Link to post Share on other sites
Chriselle 158 Posted September 16, 2012 Share Posted September 16, 2012 It's more like adolescent angst.... Where's that good old communism?....with the bullet tap to the back of the head. Link to post Share on other sites
joshnii 2 Posted September 17, 2012 Share Posted September 17, 2012 Sometimes adolescent angst finds a way to get out of control theough hey. Link to post Share on other sites
Curt 1 Posted September 17, 2012 Author Share Posted September 17, 2012 Wonder how this will affect Chinese tourism to Japan? Already been things on tv regarding lots of cancellations. Link to post Share on other sites
69 5 Posted September 17, 2012 Share Posted September 17, 2012 Sounds like there's 1000 boats full of sightseers on their way to those small islands! Good tourism numbers them. Link to post Share on other sites
Chriselle 158 Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 Muslims uprising over a really really bad obscure youtube video.....and China over some rocks in the middle of nowhere.... How about everybody just get back to work.. Link to post Share on other sites
merryJim 1 Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 I reckon there might just be some underlying anger and issues in there that makes it more than just about youtube clips and rocks, Chriselle. Link to post Share on other sites
best skier in hakuba 5 Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 Wonder how this will affect Chinese tourism to Japan? Already been things on tv regarding lots of cancellations. Friend of mine works at a place in the Fuji area and said that it has already affected them. Not heard anything from around here yet, but if it continues I would guess it will. Link to post Share on other sites
Chriselle 158 Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 I reckon there might just be some underlying anger and issues in there that makes it more than just about youtube clips and rocks, Chriselle. No need to reckon.....it has nothing to do with videos and rocks. Next week it'll be something else they have to throw rocks, fist pump and fire their AK47's in the air about. Just get a f#$%ing job, take care of your family and call it a day. Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 You tell 'em, Chriselle! Link to post Share on other sites
Chriselle 158 Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 I forgot the.... and the... Link to post Share on other sites
Chriselle 158 Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 Through out all this though....I can't help to think of the awesome timing of the sale of the islands to the Japanese government. If I was the "owner" who just got paid I'd be ..... Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 If there was an 'owner', how come the ownership is in dispute? Link to post Share on other sites
7-11 2 Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 Thing is, how can this end? Both sides are mad proud, both sides think they are right, can't see either backing down. Cheers Ishihara, we really needed this right now. Link to post Share on other sites
BagOfCrisps 24 Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 It has started to be mentioned on the news here. They were even discussing the possibility of a "Japan - China war". CHINA and other Asian countries could end up at war over territorial disputes if governments keep up their "provocative behaviour", US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta has said. Speaking to reporters before arriving in Tokyo on a trip to Asia, Mr Panetta appealed for restraint amid mounting tensions over territorial rights in the East China Sea and the South China Sea. "I am concerned that when these countries engage in provocations of one kind or another over these various islands, that it raises the possibility that a misjudgment on one side or the other could result in violence, and could result in conflict," Mr Panetta said, when asked about a clash between Japan and China. "And that conflict would then have the potential of expanding." The Pentagon chief's trip coincides with an escalating row between Asia's two largest economies over an archipelago in the East China Sea administered by Tokyo under the name Senkaku and claimed by China under the name Diaoyu. Link to post Share on other sites
BeerTengoku 35 Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 Thing is, how can this end? Both sides are mad proud, both sides think they are right, can't see either backing down. Cheers Ishihara, we really needed this right now. Take it to international arbitration. Sorted. China and Taiwan have only taken an active interest in these islands since oil and gas were discovered there. Before then, they couldn't have given a damn about them. Link to post Share on other sites
LiquidX 0 Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 They are very pretty islands though, I can see why they want them. Link to post Share on other sites
gerard 6 Posted September 19, 2012 Share Posted September 19, 2012 Should be interesting to see what happens when 1000 Chinese fishing boats pit themselves agaisnt a small number of Japanese coast guard (or SDF?) ships. Link to post Share on other sites
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