POREG VIEW: Freedom to the detained Chinese skipper Zhan Qixiong means an end to the two- week – old ugly diplomatic spat between Tokyo and Beijing. However, it doesn’t automatically mean return of peace to the East China Sea. China will be more emboldened now in its dealings with not only Japan but also other neighbours, who are not in the same league as Japan in terms of economic clout and diplomatic stamina . This is bad news.

Consider the demands for apology for Japanese misdemeanor.  And the unacknowledged halt to exports to Japan of rare earth minerals used in products like wind turbines and hybrid cars. Tempting it is to view the spate of recent strikes in factories manufacturing parts for Japanese utility vehicles as a part of a grand Chinese design.

Naturally, it brings up the question: will China be the bull on rampage in the days ahead?

There can be no categorical ‘yes’ or a ‘resounding no’ for an answer. Much would depend on how the lead players in the main plot and sub-plot put their act together.

It is difficult to believe that Tokyo made an uncharacteristic display of political backbone by detaining the captain without a Plan B in place, when fishing in disputed waters is the norm across the globe, and often the aggrieved coast guard simply chases away the intruders without much ado.

As of now, the contours of the Plan B are unclear but there are enough indicators to prompt the conclusion that the spat was, indeed, a calibrated test of the Chinese assertiveness.

Put differently, it means that China has scored a self-goal ,and put itself on notice that miracles and mirages have a limited shelf-life.