Japan loses the plot in its opposition to anti-whaling protests.

The Government of Japan appears to have finally lost the plot in the face of continuing anti-whaling protests.

 

On Monday Radio Netherlands reported:

 

"Tokyo - Japan has summoned the Dutch and Australian ambassadors following an attack by anti-whaling campaigners from the Sea Shepherd organisation on a Japanese whaling ship in Antarctica.----

Tokyo is protesting to the two countries because Sea Shepherd is registered in the Netherlands, and Australia offered the ship a base of operations. Although Australia is one of the leaders of the worldwide protest against whaling, it has condemned Sea Shepherd's actions."

While yesterday The Age ran an article containing the following:

 

"Japan described the US-based Sea Shepherd as "terrorists" and has lodged protests with Australia, where the Sea Shepherd's Steve Irwin vessel last called into port, and The Netherlands, where the boat is registered.

Japan summoned Australian Ambassador Murray McLean and Dutch Ambassador Alphons Hamer, urging them to prevent more clashes, the Japanese foreign ministry said."

 

How strange. The US-based Sea Shepherd organisation, with a properly registered Netherlands ship captained by a Canadian citizen and breaking no Australian law, uses an Australian international sea port and suddenly Australia is supposed to be responsible for its actions.

 

Yes, Japanese government support for its whalers has definitely entered the territory of la la land. 

However, the Asahi Shimbun shows that for domestic consumption, government rhetoric is somewhat more measured and abandons the "terrorists" label.

 

Japan Whaling Association 3 March 2008 media release here.