China to Japan: “Now Apologise & Pay Up”

China’s response to Japan releasing its captain is to continue the confrontation and further humiliate Japan by demanding money and an apology.

The Chinese reaction to the release of the detained captain, flown back to China by Japan on a chartered jet and seen triumphally disembarking above, was to demand Japan provide a grovelling apology and money.

The brutal Chinese declaration leaves no leeway for negotiations or for Japan to save face:

“Japan illegally detained captain and crew, and violated Chinese territory and sovereignty.

[…]

Japan’s claim to be able to enforce its laws in the area is null and void, and Japan must apologise and furnish compensation to us as a result of the incident.”

The Japanese foreign ministry has refused the demands, saying “we cannot accept them in any way whatsoever.” They rather pathetically claim “There is no territorial issue in the East China Sea. We’ll continue to protect our claims there rigorously.”

In Japan, the response has widely been seen as an insult and a sign of overweening arrogance and aggression on the part of China, leaving the credibility of the government’s formerly pro-China diplomacy in tatters.

The returning captain was fêted on his return, saying “I’m grateful to the Party and state for getting me back unharmed” and “Japan’s arrest of me was illegal. The Diaoyu Islands are Chinese territory, and I completely support the position of the Chinese government.”

China still holds the 4 Japanese “spies” it is threatening with execution.

Sadly, it seems the dangers of appeasement are lost on many Japanese politicians, and the Japanese Democratic Party in particular.

The 2ch response:

Look, they won’t stop.

Why couldn’t those idiot Democrats see this would happen?

I could tell this would happen but still… it’s like they keep stamping on Japan’s head even as they grovel in front of them.

The people who didn’t realise this would happen are complete idiots. I feel sick.

The whole nation is a gangster nation. Unbelievable.

This is the result of the “dialogue” the leftists wanted.

You can’t call yourself a country if you don’t have power.

Hurry up and get nukes. This can’t go on.

The ones who ordered this release committed an act equivalent to state treason.

What an age we live in – you can expand your territory and demand money just by bashing into someone’s ship.

The diplomacy of prostration has begun. The wonders of a nation with no army.

Now they’ve seen a weakness they’re just going to keep demanding more and more.

The government and prosecutors should apologise by committing seppuku.

I didn’t think they be so blatant. Now they’ve shown everyone what they’re really like. The Chinese are just too base and mean a people, you can’t deal with them.

Say something Agnes!

What a genius, this fishing boat captain. Without a shot fired or a drop of blood spilt he stole the Senkaku Islands – amazing.

If we pay anything it’ll be handing our claim over the islands to China.

Next it’ll be Okinawa. Then Kyushu, Shikoku, Hokkaido, Honshu…

I didn’t realise China was so crude a nation – I’ve lost all hope in them. I can’t believe a nation like this is a standing member of the UN security council.

And they still have the 4 hostages…

Amazing JDP diplomacy. They didn’t even manage to get a promise of no further demands in return for releasing him. I can’t believe how stupid they are.

This is a good stimulus for a peace addled Japan – you can get whatever you want with only words if they’re backed by military power. Japan must obtain nuclear weapons. This precedent shows if you don’t have the power to exterminate other nations you’ll just be treated like dirt.