Comments on: Chinese gov’t breaks up Korean lawmakers’ press conference http://www.rjkoehler.com/2005/01/13/chinese-govt-breaks-up-korean-lawmakers-press-conference/ Korea... in Blog Format Sat, 11 Oct 2008 05:59:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: craig http://www.rjkoehler.com/2005/01/13/chinese-govt-breaks-up-korean-lawmakers-press-conference/#comment-10428 craig Thu, 13 Jan 2005 23:37:25 +0000 http://rjkoehler.com/?p=1402#comment-10428 I bet deep down Roh is pretty happy the conference got shut down. I also have to echo the Infidel's point. Did these guys just make a mistake and can't have the balls to admit it? I bet deep down Roh is pretty happy the conference got shut down. I also have to echo the Infidel’s point. Did these guys just make a mistake and can’t have the balls to admit it?

]]> By: slim http://www.rjkoehler.com/2005/01/13/chinese-govt-breaks-up-korean-lawmakers-press-conference/#comment-10427 slim Thu, 13 Jan 2005 22:32:17 +0000 http://rjkoehler.com/?p=1402#comment-10427 Calling this a set play by these diplomats, with or without Seoul??s guidance, is wishful thinking on Slim??s part. I certainly wouldn't wish for any outcome like what happened. But when you read accounts of North Koreans and those who help them being harassed by SOUTH Korean officials (Vladivostok etc), you have to wonder about the trickledown policy effect of having guys like Chung Dong-young publicly withdraw the welcome mat for North Koreans. Calling this a set play by these diplomats, with or without Seoul??s guidance, is wishful thinking on Slim??s part.

I certainly wouldn’t wish for any outcome like what happened. But when you read accounts of North Koreans and those who help them being harassed by SOUTH Korean officials (Vladivostok etc), you have to wonder about the trickledown policy effect of having guys like Chung Dong-young publicly withdraw the welcome mat for North Koreans.

]]> By: Infidel http://www.rjkoehler.com/2005/01/13/chinese-govt-breaks-up-korean-lawmakers-press-conference/#comment-10426 Infidel Thu, 13 Jan 2005 22:02:36 +0000 http://rjkoehler.com/?p=1402#comment-10426 Calling this a set play by these diplomats, with or without Seoul's guidance, is wishful thinking on Slim's part. More likely, this is a mistake a diplomatic staff should not make, but, in Seoul's case, so often do. But, I would be more interested in reading the SK coverage, not for the ideological slant, but to see if someone actually admits a mistake was made. Calling this a set play by these diplomats, with or without Seoul’s guidance, is wishful thinking on Slim’s part. More likely, this is a mistake a diplomatic staff should not make, but, in Seoul’s case, so often do. But, I would be more interested in reading the SK coverage, not for the ideological slant, but to see if someone actually admits a mistake was made.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.rjkoehler.com/2005/01/13/chinese-govt-breaks-up-korean-lawmakers-press-conference/#comment-10425 Anonymous Thu, 13 Jan 2005 21:19:01 +0000 http://rjkoehler.com/?p=1402#comment-10425 And factions of the government actually think it would be beneficial for Korea to snuggle up to China? And factions of the government actually think it would be beneficial for Korea to snuggle up to China?

]]> By: slim http://www.rjkoehler.com/2005/01/13/chinese-govt-breaks-up-korean-lawmakers-press-conference/#comment-10424 slim Thu, 13 Jan 2005 16:09:38 +0000 http://rjkoehler.com/?p=1402#comment-10424 Truth be told, these lawmakers, who were being harassed by Chinese embassy officials even back in Seoul, and especially their South Korean embassy handlers in Beijing, should have known that China occasionally and selectively enforces its policies requiring a permit for news conferences. NGOs working on sensitive issues are often rejected (or worse), but South Korean officials would have had no problem getting approval. However, one has to wonder whether diplomats directed to follow cold-shoulder policies on North Korean refugees recently articulated by Seoul would really support their program. (Why not hold the event at the South Korean embassy?) Then again, maybe the lawmakers wanted controversy to draw attention to a cause neglected back home. Some good may come of this incident, such as a more sober South Korean view of China's government and a greater willingness to contemplate the plight of North Koreans. (I'm writing without checking if Seoul's "progressive" media outlets covered the scrum.) If China can see fit to rough up dignitaries, imagine what could happen to a hapless Northerner who's not even welcome in South Korea any more. Truth be told, these lawmakers, who were being harassed by Chinese embassy officials even back in Seoul, and especially their South Korean embassy handlers in Beijing, should have known that China occasionally and selectively enforces its policies requiring a permit for news conferences. NGOs working on sensitive issues are often rejected (or worse), but South Korean officials would have had no problem getting approval. However, one has to wonder whether diplomats directed to follow cold-shoulder policies on North Korean refugees recently articulated by Seoul would really support their program. (Why not hold the event at the South Korean embassy?) Then again, maybe the lawmakers wanted controversy to draw attention to a cause neglected back home.

Some good may come of this incident, such as a more sober South Korean view of China’s government and a greater willingness to contemplate the plight of North Koreans. (I’m writing without checking if Seoul’s “progressive” media outlets covered the scrum.) If China can see fit to rough up dignitaries, imagine what could happen to a hapless Northerner who’s not even welcome in South Korea any more.

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