I think what hasn't helped with China and Japan is that some parts of Japan are still in denial about events of the war. For example, a hundred members of the LDP party (one of the longest running ruling parties of Japan) denounced Nanking as Chinese propaganda in 2007 whilst their party was in power. There are many others in positions of power in Japan who hold similar viewpoints, the Governor of Tokyo (who I have already drawn attention to) is one of them.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanking...re#Controversy

Then there's been the continual controversies in Japanese school textbooks which have been altered by the Japanese government over the years in order to downplay Japans role in the Pacific war, in particular its actions in China.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanes..._controversies

There's also the Yasukuni shrine, which is another sensitive issue between Japan and China which flares up a lot.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yasukuni_Shrine


Compare this to Germany where even displaying a Swastika is forbidden, and any hint of historical revisionism brings down hordes of 'Nazi' comments and criticism.
That is not to say there are not those who have forgiven what Japan did, but Japan itself hasn't done itself any favours with its bullish treatment of its own history.

Next escalation stage.

Over a thousand Chinese trawlers have set sail and plan to set sail for the disputed islands, accompanied by Chinese coastguard and patrol units.

Source: Die Welt

This makes it even harder for the Chinese to now back down without loosing not just their face, but what it hangs on as well.

Bejing also announced to present "geologic evidence" to the UN that would allow it claim sovereignity over naval areas up to several hundred miles into international waters and up to immediately offshore of Okinawa. It also openly threatens with sanctions.

Tokyo's posiiton is not any more comfortable. No idea on what they will do now, whether backing down or moving on with the deal to buy the islands from the current private (Japanese) owners.

I think that all countries bordering the conflict zone do themselves no favour to stay out of this and not lining up with the Japanese, no matter WWII memories. This display of collective weakness will only encourage the Chinese to bully even more aggressively in the future - and then maybe at their cost instead of just Japan's.

If the article is true Sky the Chinese are certainly upping the stakes and looking 'deadly' serious.

Yeah, I think we can expect either a rerun of the 2010 rammings and arrests or a peaceful boat cruise around the island with a Japanese escort. More likely to be rammings though.

On a positive note, at least this is bringing the PRC and ROC together... :haha:

Could be a practice drill for Taiwan as well :huh:

Could become a drill for HMS Ambush! :sunny:

So wheres all the political rhetoric from our politicians, where is Mitt and Obama?

What is their take on this?

Is it as venomous as Iran?

Will we let a country we neutered fall?

I already know the answer, corporate America loves China, and will never let anything happen to the readily available slave wages, and poor environmental practices China provides. Being that our government is in bed with the so called job creators, I see us kowtowing to China no matter what.

I don't care what the Japanese did. Name me one country in history who has not skewed facts to suit them? Name me the perfect noble country who always told it like it was in textbooks, my textbooks in grade school history attempted to justify the internment camps we threw Japanese-Americans in. Then in the same breath stated how rascist and evil the Germans were.

We were taught how many died in the Rape of Nanking, but Stalin and his genocides were glossed over.

Spare me, it is our obligation, since we made them the way they are.

I bet the UN will do something!:haha:

We interrupt the running program for a personal newsflash. Oberon, since you are stuck in this thread, this is for you:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RE2X3j3WxMk&feature

ETA: just a couple of days. They had some minor last minute issues.

And now back to the main program.

:D

Diplomatically perhaps, certainly this is a test for the PRC to see how far it can exert its soft pressure before the US starts moving CVBGs about.

^^ Nice vid, :yep:

ooooooh :rock: Danke!


EDIT: Returning to normal schedule, I just spotted this in the BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-19620355

Excellent diplomatic move.

It shows we are watching them, and aware of the threat, without outright offending or threatening China.

Maybe it is time for us to stage Naval exercises in the disputed areas of the South China sea again.:)

America has perfected being a bully, yeah poke at Japan, the scrawny kid who is good at math, but they are friends with the big bully, not smart...Unless they are trying to poke at the bully.

But Iran is more important!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Andorra

:O:

Smart arse!:D

I was going to suggest 'Utopia' :03: