This morning's key headlines from
GenerationalDynamics.com:
- Japan-China island dispute being driven by popular nationalism on both sides
- Canada severs all diplomatic relations with Iran
- Canada suggests that its diplomats in Iran were in danger
Japan-China island dispute being driven by popular nationalism on both sides
In the past seven years, there have been three major crisis points in
China-Japan relations: spring 2005, fall 2010, and now this
summer. All of them have been related to so-called "history issues,"
such as perceived shortcomings in apologies by Japan for its wartime
conduct, textbook portrayals of Japan’s wartime conduct and visits by
Japanese politicians to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine, which
contains the graves of Japanese wartime generals. Additionally, the
latest two crises have been sparked by the territorial dispute over
the Senkaku/Diaoyu island chain. In the two previous crises, both
governments participated in overt escalation of tension, but
ultimately both had to back off after the tension had escalated beyond
expectations. This time, both governments try to quell tensions from
the beginning, but to no avail. Activists from both countries visited
the islands against the wishes of the governments, and were celebrated
in the press and blogs back home as "heroes." Polls show a distinct
trend line, that more people each year in each country are without
"positive feelings" towards the other country. This increase in
nationalism on both sides, as both countries go deeper into a
generational Crisis era, is an early sign that war is approaching.
Jamestown
Canada severs all diplomatic relations with Iran
In a move that surprised a lot of people, Canada on Friday severed all
diplomatic ties with Iran. The statement by Foreign Minister John
Baird lists a number of reasons:
- Canada views the Government of Iran as the most significant
threat to global peace and security in the world today.
- The Iranian regime is providing increasing military assistance to
the Assad regime
- it refuses to comply with UN resolutions pertaining to its
nuclear program
- it routinely threatens the existence of Israel and engages in
racist anti-Semitic rhetoric and incitement to genocide
- it is among the world’s worst violators of human rights
- and it shelters and materially supports terrorist groups,
requiring the Government of Canada to formally list Iran as a state
sponsor of terrorism under the Justice for Victims of Terrorism
Act.
- The Iranian regime has shown blatant disregard for the Vienna
Convention and its guarantee of protection for diplomatic
personnel.
Canada's diplomats have already left Tehran, and Iran's diplomats have
been given five days to leave Canada. National Post (Ontario)
Canada suggests that its diplomats in Iran were in danger
Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird said that the embassy in
Tehran was being closed primarily over concerns for the safety of
Canadian diplomats. "Our diplomats serve Canada as civilians and their
safety is my number one priority. They don’t sign up to be put in
harm’s way." He did not specify what threats Canada's diplomats were
facing. The danger may have been related to the 1979 hostage crisis
involving 50 American diplomats in the U.S. embassy in Tehran who were
held hostage for 444 days. At that time, Canada helped several
American diplomats escape Iran by allowing them to pretend to be
Canadians. More recently, protesters stormed the British Embassy in
November after the United Kingdom tightened sanctions against the
country, including targeting its central bank. The British Embassy in
Iran remains closed and the U.S. hasn’t had a diplomatic mission there
since 1979. Canada.com
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Headline image: Xinhua