By ignoring China's claim on Denkaku, Maehara legitimizes China's claim on the gas field in the East China Sea as well as Russia's claim to the Kuril Isles. Might makes right. Moreover, Japan risks losing all the goodwill built up recently with it's 2nd largest trading partner. So Japan has much to lose and little to gain in this matter. Kan should show some statesmanship and order the captain's release, especially since his first order of business is to improve the economy. He doesn't need this.