AUSTRALIAN DIPLOMACY

Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith

The Japanese may not like to discuss confrontational issues face to face but this does not bother those macho Aussies one bit. Not having done anything besides aide, abet, and shelter the Sea Shepherd Pirate Group for years they now start a fight during a diplomatic visit.

The Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada is currently visiting Australia and had meetings with the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd who immediately told him that Japan had until November to stop hunting whales in the Antarctic. The 2009/2010 Season ends in about three weeks so that was handy!! With that Australian diplomatic greeting the Japanese FM went on to meet his counterpart Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith in Perth Western Australia. Now Perth just happens to be the current Port State base of the SS-PG - yes indeed - again Australian tact and style at work.

Super-macho Steve threatens to take Japan to the International Court of Justice if it does not stop whale hunting. This is "unfortunate" says Japanese FM Katsuya Okada. Indeed it is, it is also a legal act of war because in the diplomatic world one does not "threaten" one "advises" or "informs". Old Steve, who has protected the SS-PG and done absolutely nothing, as Port State, to control their nautical thuggery now threatens Japan by passing the buck to a non-Australian Court - 'dutch courage' from the ANZACS ?

With their nation having been threatened this now leaves the Japanese Whaling Fleet free to re-enter the Australian EEZ and continue hunting. It is also a 'finger' gesture from Japan to Australia 'if you want a fight mate try this' and the threat also virtually prevents the Australian Navy being sent to enforce the Law. If that now occurs it is 'gunboat diplomacy' and Japan is in an international legal position to defend itself. To refer to history this is exactly how World War 1 started as a result of the Incident at Sarajevo.

One wonders at Steve's diplomacy skills or rather lack thereof, it would seem for starters that he go back to "Foreign Minister 101" and take it from there.

Good Watch.

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