Abe to cut short Indonesia visit over Algeria hostage crisis

Politics Jan. 18, 2013 - 05:10PM JST ( 10 )

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10 Comments

-3

smithinjapanJan. 18, 2013 - 03:55PM JST

Should have done this back in Hanoi and come back then. At least he's coming back, though.
-1

NessieJan. 18, 2013 - 04:24PM JST

Very shortsighted to slight a friendly and important regional player for a faraway short-term conflict that Japan doesn't have much of a stake in.
0

kiboushaJan. 18, 2013 - 04:37PM JST

Short visit, more likely because Jakarta is flooded like never before. The city became a Venice replica in a day, unplanned and without the romance, you don't wanna be there right now!
-1

FPSRussiaJan. 18, 2013 - 04:45PM JST

Politics demand he return. If he continued his little Asia expedition then the opposition would be calling for his resignation in a day. You guys know Japanese politics. They'll be calling for his resignation quite soon if it's deemed that Japan's Embassy did not work closely enough with Algerian intelligence to provide early warnings to JN's working in hot areas.

I'm not sure how Japan's Embassy operates but in my case, as an American, I'm registered with the U.S. Embassy and often receive emails that alert me terrorist threat levels or for example during 3/11 and after I received information constantly.

Does Japan's Embassy operate on this level? Are they alerting Japanese citizens in China and Algerian to possible threats to their safety. I don't know the answer to this question so I'm asking.
1

Open MindedJan. 18, 2013 - 08:29PM JST

Nessie: South Sahel is a little Afghanistan with strategic access to resources like gas and uranium. Unfortunately I am not that optimistic that this is a short-term conflict (it is actually a pretty old one already).
0

nigelboyJan. 19, 2013 - 12:02AM JST

Very shortsighted to slight a friendly and important regional player for a faraway short-term conflict that Japan doesn't have much of a stake in.

I agree but at least he met the respective leaders which was his primary goal. As the article states, instead of staying overnight in Jarkarta which was his original plan, he returned a day earlier.
0

nigelboyJan. 19, 2013 - 12:08AM JST

Does Japan's Embassy operate on this level? Are they alerting Japanese citizens in China and Algerian to possible threats to their safety. I don't know the answer to this question so I'm asking.

Yes. In fact, the Embassy requires you to register so Japan does keep a good track record of how many Japanese nationals are residing overseas.

http://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/toko/tokei/hojin/12/pdfs/WebBrowse.pdf

Overseas safety information based on region

http://www.anzen.mofa.go.jp/riskmap/africa_1.html

Terrorist activity summary in Algeria

http://www2.anzen.mofa.go.jp/info/pcterror.asp?id=91
1

Open MindedJan. 19, 2013 - 12:20AM JST

This area is planned to be a big uranium source for Japan (through the french AREVA). It is not just a matter of killed hostages. It is really a strategic matter for the future nuke Japan.
1

ScroteJan. 19, 2013 - 03:22AM JST

There was no need for Abe to fly back to Japan. The "crisis" is in a foreign country in which Japan evidently has little influence. Why fly back to Tokyo to sit in tedious meetings discussing something you can do nothing about? It's just empty posturing.
0

Open MindedJan. 19, 2013 - 01:08PM JST

Scrote: read my comment.