Japan still seeking diplomacy on whaling

Japan's foreign minister wants a diplomatic resolution to whaling, despite fresh
threats of international legal action by Kevin Rudd.
Katsuya Okada discussed the matter with the Australian prime minister during a
meeting in Sydney on Saturday afternoon.
Prior to the meeting, a spokesman for Mr Okada, said it was crucial to reach a
diplomatic position in light of the "importance of Australia-Japan relations".
"We hope that the two countries will ... reach a diplomatic solution," spokesman
Hidenobu Sobashima said, citing Mr Rudd's threat to take legal action against Japan
if it failed to cease whaling by November.
Japan would also seek Australia's "co-operation" over the anti-whaling group Sea
Shepherd, Mr Sobashima said.
The whale wars have been vicious this season, with one protest vessel destroyed,
numerous collisions and the use of stink-bombs, lasers and water cannon.
In another twist, Sea Shepherd captain Pete Bethune remains aboard the Shonan Maru
2, after he secretly boarded the Japanese whaling ship on Monday.
Mr Bethune went aboard the vessel to demand a $3 million payment for the Ady Gil, a
Sea Shepherd vessel that sank after a collision with the whalers.
Sea Shepherd spokesman Benjamin Baldwin defended Mr Bethune, who may be taken back
to Japan to face criminal charges.
"We think that Pete was completely within his rights boarding the vessel," he told
AAP, during an anti-whaling protest in front of the Japanese Embassy in Canberra.
He joined about 30 protesters who held signs demanding an end to the slaughter of
whales and Mr Bethune's immediate release.
Mr Baldwin was sceptical of the Rudd government's new deadline, saying no action had
yet been taken on the 2007 election commitment.
"We would like to remind Minister Okada that no matter what the outcome of the talks
with the government are, if he intends to continue this barbaric slaughter Sea
Shepherd will always be there," he said.
Whaling wasn't the only issue on Mr Okada's agenda during the first day of a two-day
visit to Australia.
The defence relationship between Australia and Japan was raised during a meeting
with Defence Minister John Faulkner.
Senator Faulkner said he "highlighted the strength of the defence relationship"
during the meeting and discussed the development of a new logistics agreement.
"This agreement ... will allow Australia and Japan to better coordinate their
cooperation in a range of areas, including disaster relief and peacekeeping,"
Senator Faulkner said in a statement.
Mr Okada, the first minister of the new Hatoyama government to visit Australia, will
travel to Perth on Sunday for talks with Foreign Minister Stephen Smith.
The trilateral relationship with the United States, free trade negotiations and
regional security are expected to be high on the agenda.