sit out #3

Suga on no China, S.Korea envoys to event

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga says it is regrettable that China negatively interpreted Japan's expression of gratitude to Taiwan for its aid following the March 2011 quake and tsunami.

 China,
along with South Korea, did not send their envoys to a ceremony hosted by the Japanese government on Monday to mark the 2nd anniversary of the disaster.



China protested the inclusion of Taiwan among countries and parties whose representatives were called upon to offer flowers during the ceremony.

 Suga told reporters on Tuesday that Japan had explained to China that Taiwan deserves the treatment because it offered exceptional assistance to Japan following the disaster. 

He said it is highly regrettable that China did not understand this and sat out the ceremony.

 Suga also said Japan's basic stance on Taiwan is in line with the 1972 Japan-China Joint Statement, in which Japan recognized the government in mainland China as the sole government of the whole of China.

He said Japan does not intend to change its stance on Taiwan.

 Suga also referred to South Korea's absence from the ceremony. 

He said he has been informed that South Korean Ambassador to Japan, Shin Kak-soo, told Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Chikao Kawai on Monday night that the country had no intention of staying away from the ceremony.

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20130312_26.html

sit outは自動詞では「〈人が〉屋外にいる、座る」という意味を表しますが、記事のように「（あえて）出席をしたい」（最後にあるstaying away from the ceremonyと同じ）という使い方もできます（cf. sit in）。なお、他動詞用法の「（芝居・音楽会などを）(退屈、いやでも）終わりまで見る （…が）終わるまでいる」も併せておさえておきましょう。（UG）

cf. http://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2013/03/12/japan-china-bicker-over-311-service/