China threatens retaliation unless Japan releases fishing boat captain detained in disputed waters; China has already suspended diplomatic ties with Japan; America taking bigger role in Asian security; US may apply sanctions to China unless value of yuan rises; Hillary Clinton encourages Arab aid to Palestine; France investigates al-Qaeda kidnapping; and more
Top of the Agenda: China Raises Stakes in Japan Dispute
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao raised the stakes in an escalating dispute with Japan (NYT) by threatening retaliation unless Tokyo immediately released the captain of a Chinese fishing boat detained in disputed waters. The comments, made to members of the Chinese-American community in New York, were the first by a senior Chinese official on the issue. The captain and crew were seized earlier this month by Japanese naval vessels claiming the boat rammed them near several uninhabited islands controlled by Japan. China announced Tuesday Wen would likely not meet Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan when both leaders attend the UN development conference. Earlier this week, China suspended many of the two countries' diplomatic ties (FT) and exchanges. The row threatens to exacerbate lingering distrust between the world's second- and third-largest economies, which stems from territorial disputes, residual Chinese anger over Japanese occupation in World War II, and China's growing regional power. Japan's top government spokesman called for high-level bilateral talks (Xinhua) to ease the tensions Wednesday.
Analysis:
In the Japan Times, Ralph Cossa says "an increasingly assertive China is unwittingly reinforcing America's role in Asia as the implicit guarantor of security and stability."
On RealClearWorld, Todd Crowell says Japan is "awakening to the fact that its extreme southern flank is basically undefended and open to invasion" and is redeploying troops to its west and south, which may accelerate as Beijing becomes more aggressive across the entire South China, East China, and Yellow Seas.
On CFR's Asia Unbound blog, Sheila Smith says although it seems unlikely Beijing would want to unravel its hard diplomatic work to stabilize Sino-Japanese relations, the incident could be another effort to "push the envelope in contesting the status quo in maritime Asia."
PACIFIC RIM: Obama Sharpens Rhetoric on Yuan
U.S. President Barack Obama used a town-hall style meeting Tuesday to forcefully call for Beijing to do more to raise its currency value (FT) ahead of meetings with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in New York.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner signaled the administration's frustration with China's exchange rate policy, while stopping short of endorsing congressional action. But unless China acts soon, the U.S. may have no other choice than to apply sanctions, writes CFR's Steven Dunaway.
ELSEWHERE:
- Clinton Pushes Arab Aid to Palestine
- Niger: France Probes al-Qaeda Abduction
This is an excerpt of the CFR.org Daily News Brief. The full version is available on CFR.org