China, Japan in diplomatic foray over embassy attacker

[beijingwalker]

China, Japan in diplomatic foray over embassy attacker

Published: 14/07/2012 at 12:48 AM

Tokyo and Beijing have been locked in a diplomatic fight over a Chinese man who hurled petrol bombs at the Japanese embassy in Seoul, officials said Friday.

Policemen stand guard in front of the Japanese embassy in Seoul in 2011. Tokyo and Beijing have been locked in a diplomatic fight over a Chinese man who hurled petrol bombs at the Japanese embassy in Seoul, officials said Friday.

The 38-year-old surnamed Liu was charged with attempted arson in January after he threw four petrol bombs at the mission, leaving burn marks on its outer wall.

"Japan has asked South Korea through formal diplomatic channels to hand him over" for trial, a foreign ministry official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

South Korea has also received an informal request from China to deport him, she said.

At talks Friday with South Korea's Justice Minister Kwon Jae-Jin, Chinese Public Security Minister Meng Jianzhu showed his "interest" in the case, Kwon's office.

Kwon vowed to handle the case under South Korea's law and legal procedures, it said, declining to give details.

Liu has told investigators that he attacked the embassy because he was angry at Tokyo's refusal to deal with the issue of "comfort women" forced to work in Japanese military brothels in World War II.

He said his late maternal grandmother -- a Korean -- was forced into wartime sex slavery in China.

Some 200,000 women from Korea and other countries were drafted to work in Japanese army brothels, according to historians. Japan has rejected talks on compensating them.

Liu also claimed responsibility for an arson attack which caused minor damage at Japan's controversial Yasukuni shrine last December.

The shrine in Tokyo is dedicated to 2.5 million Japanese killed in wars -- including top war criminals -- and is often seen as a symbol of the country's wartime aggression.

Meng arrived Thursday for a three-day visit to discuss cooperation in consular and immigration services.

At separate talks Friday with Foreign Minister Kim Sung-Hwan, Meng said Beijing was "seriously" considering Seoul's request to release four South Korean activists, the foreign ministry said.

The four were arrested on March 29 after helping North Korean refugees, and accused of endangering China's national security, a charge that can carry severe punishment.

Almost all refugees from the North cross first to China, which repatriates any fugitives it catches, classing them as economic migrants.

South Korean activists engage in secret activities in China to help the refugees travel on to Seoul.

 

[ahfatzia]

"Japan has asked South Korea through formal diplomatic channels to hand him over" for trial, a foreign ministry official told AFP on condition of anonymity.


That's interesting and I wonder it conforms with international protocol.

 

[beijingwalker]

He seems to be a Korean Chinese.

 

[SinoChallenger]

He seems to be a Korean Chinese.

What a great patriot! He must be protected even if PLA must enter Seoul to fetch him.

 

[terranMarine]

What a great patriot! He must be protected even if PLA must enter Seoul to fetch him.

That helicopter of yours should be enough for bringing him back to his motherland, it's time for you to volunteer for this rescue mission.

 

[Korean]

He seems to be a Korean Chinese.

Korean authorities classify him as Han Chinese.

Korea has a very strict guideline on ethnicity classification. Korean ethnicity classification requires ones to have 51% blood(This means 75% in practice). If you are a half breed, then you are legally a non-Korean ethnicity and you are classified as whatever that 50% maybe. This ethnicity stuff is serious, as only a male of Korean ethnicity may be drafted into military and this is why half-blood individuals have been exempt from the conscription(Since a half breed is not ethnically Korean). Nowadays they are changing the law to require ROK nationals regardless of ethnicity classification to serve in the military due to falling birth-rate and that the policy was racist.

So that dude you speak of is Han Chinese(Assuming his claims are true) under the Korean legal purpose. And the dude will be shipped to Japan after he's released from Korean prison because of an extradition treaty with Japan.

 

[ahfatzia]

And the dude will be shipped to Japan after he's released from Korean prison because of an extradition treaty with Japan.

How can Korea allow him to be extradite when he committed the crime in Korea territory. When he hurled the bomb he was standing in Korea and should try in Korea only. Japan can suit for damage as a victim but can not try him.

 

[Korean]

How can Korea allow him to be extradite when he committed the crime in Korea territory.

He claims to have burned the gates of Yasukuni Shrine, and there is an outstanding Japanese arrest warrant which must be honored by Korea because of the extradition treaty.

There was a similar case, where one American murdered another American(both were whites) in Korea yet the suspect was extradited to Korea to face a murder trial in Korea because the crime took place in Korea.

 

[ahfatzia]

He claims to have burned the gates of Yasukuni Shrine, and there is an outstanding Japanese arrest warrant which must be honored by Korea because of the extradition treaty.

There was a similar case, where one American murdered another American(both were whites) in Korea yet the suspect was extradited to Korea to face a murder trial in Korea because the crime took place in Korea.

What ever Liu claims is immaterial to the case. The OP's article does not mention an outstanding warrant from Japan and if it's so Japan can only tries him on the warrant case if he's to be extradited, not the case happens here in Korea.

The American case is obvious if the US respects Korea's sovereignty.

 

[Korean]

What ever Liu claims is immaterial to the case. The OP's article does not mention an outstanding warrant from Japan

There is one issued.

if it's so Japan can only tries him on the warrant case if he's to be extradited, not the case happens here in Korea.

The embassy is a Japanese territory, so Japan could try him if they wanted to. But they will most likely stick to the burning of the Yasukuni Shrine gate case.

The American case is obvious if the US respects Korea's sovereignty.

Actually some Koreans were wondering why Korea had to spend money to try him in court and throw him in prison since both the perpetrator and the victim were Americans.

 

[ahfatzia]

The embassy is a Japanese territory, so Japan could try him if they wanted to. But they will most likely stick to the burning of the Yasukuni Shrine gate case.
.

Technically Liu commits the crime in Korean territory, but anyway he'll get off on technicality if Japan does try him on this case after the extradition and if Japan courts are fair.

What do you think Korea will do, sends him home or extradites him after he's serves his term in Korea?

 

[Korean]

What do you think Korea will do, sends him home or extradites him after he's serves his term in Korea?

Korea has no choice but to extradite him to Japan, because there is a valid arrest Japanese arrest warrant for an attack committed in Tokyo that Liu confessed to.

It is a different case from the extradition of Dolkun Isa, the leader of World Uyghur Congress. China demanded his extradition to China when he entered the Incheon Airport but Korea refused, send him back to Germany safely because Chinese charges against him doesn't constitute a crime under the Korean law.