China begins naval war games amid tensions over territorial disputes

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  • -1

    just-a-bigguy

    Right time, right place, right things done to those 'right' countries!

  • 1

    UncleBudah

    Let the Games begin!!

  • -4

    Pein PeinFx

    NEW ASIAN WAR COMING

  • 3

    mergui1205

    The future U.S. relations with China will be far different than the Cold War relationship with the U.S.S.R., even if the Chinese get closer to nuclear parity with the U.S. The two nations will be far more interdependent economically than the U.S. and Soviets; hence their fates will be far more interlocked. While we had almost no major economic ties to the Soviets during the Cold War, we are now China’s major market (we ran a $295 billion trade deficit with China in 2011) and China is our largest lender (China presently holds over $1 trillion in American assets—largely bonds). In a sense, we are each other’s principal sources of revenues: trade revenues for China and loans for the U.S. government. This economic interdependence is here to stay, however, it will be embedded in a competitive environment, which will make the two nations anything but close allies. U.S.-China relations will be very similar to U.S. relations with developed Asian nations, but with more geo-strategic baggage. In other words, in this economically polygamous world, the marriage between the U.S. and China will be stormier than U.S. relations with its other spouses, but a divorce is largely out of the question.US is presently negotiating with China to allow greater American foreign direct investment,Perhaps the most lucrative possibilities for American foreign direct investment in the future, in terms of potential earnings, lie in China. US just want to use Asian countries including Japan as pawns to check China's growth economically,politically and militarily. US strategy overtly presupposes that Washington would by all means try to avoid a direct confrontation with Beijing, and definitely seeks to reload the burden of conflict on its proxies in the area. This can lead to only one thing: while instigating the conflict, the US can feel free from any retaliation on China’s part with the smaller countries at risk of becoming the primary targets.

  • -4

    smithinjapan

    You see? Japanese smack talk brings about very real, physical threats. Hope the islands are worth it, even though China won't care one hoot if Japan buys the islands it claims it owns already or not.

  • 1

    mergui1205

    Japan cannot count on US power in a confrontation with China because the foremost security threat for the United States is its financial deficit. US Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, acknowledged as much last year. China currently holds nearly $2 trillion in US Treasury, agency and other securities. In any serious confrontation, or in the lead-up to it, China would naturally sell or demand repayment of its US debt holdings. The disastrous consequences for the US economy are now being factored into the US Defense Department’s scenario analyses. The military power of the United States cannot be relied on to turn against its Chinese banker. It is often said that the United States and China are rivals — even potential combatants — in areas near Okinawa and the South China Sea. Some Japanese military strategists go as far as asserting that Japan must enlist US military power to pursue a containment policy against an expanding China. And yet Japan’s stock market reacts to small changes in the outlook for China’s economic growth every day. China is Japan’s largest export market and offers the best hope of growth for many of Japan’s leading companies. This leaves Japan in an awkward position, because it has to balance its deep mutual economic dependency on China with the need to deter possible military confrontation. How can Japan take stances and pursue policies whose outcomes are so clearly at cross-purposes? The US-Japan security treaty has not enhanced Japan’s security. On the contrary, it has increased Japan’s insecurity by promoting militarism in China and putting China in a strategic position that makes it difficult to withdraw its support for North Korea. The United States cannot and will not go to war with China to protect Japan.Japan should use diplomacy to achieve win-win resolutions of disputes with China, including territorial ones. Japan should aim to become an “Asian Switzerland.” This concept, which was widely endorsed immediately after the war, is now barely mentioned at a time when East Asia is gradually descending into military competition. Japan should return to the peace spirit that characterized the aftermath of the war, when the nation decided to work toward world peace. Excerpt from Susumu Yabuki the emeritus professor of economics at Yokohama City University

  • -1

    smithinjapan

    Now all the few Okinawans who were protesting will suddenly chirp a little less about the Ospreys and support the US military.

  • 3

    oberst

    war games go on all the time. It takes a lot of planning and time. If China can conduct a war game on such short notice in response to the two dudes swimming there, then we are really in trouble.

  • -2

    lostrune2

    They should invite North Korea. North Korea feeling lonely. Their best friend didn't invite them.

  • 1

    ExportExpert

    Some would have you believe this to be more than it is.

    It is a pre planned millitary exercise and has nothing to do with what noda said two days ago or what ishihara did last week.

    Nothing more nothing less, dont scare the feeble by saying absurd things like some have said above.

    Asia is far from being at WAR.

  • -5

    smithinjapan

    oberst: "war games go on all the time. It takes a lot of planning and time. If China can conduct a war game on such short notice in response to the two dudes swimming there, then we are really in trouble."

    Japan's always in trouble, and usually because it puts itself in that situation. They toss out nationalistic drivel, white-wash textbooks, call women they raped prostitutes, and then hide behind the legs of the US military, but the US military is not going to help them unless it's full out WWIII. Japan needs to realize there are consequences for its actions, and that they cannot deny history and think it's all in the pink (and again, are the victims!). China will do what it wants, when it wants, and Japan can do nothing about it.

  • 3

    Cletus

    smithinjapan

    Japan needs to realize there are consequences for its actions, and that they cannot deny history and think it's all in the pink (and again, are the victims!). China will do what it wants, when it wants, and Japan can do nothing about it.

    Smith Japan can and will do lots about it. They will whine incessantly like little girls and try and spin the old victim card their way as per usual

  • 0

    smithinjapan

    Cletus: "Smith Japan can and will do lots about it. They will whine incessantly like little girls and try and spin the old victim card their way as per usual"

    Yes, I suppose that's a type of action. :)

  • -3

    overchan

    Those islands belong to Japan. Just like kurils belong to russia.

  • 0

    KariHaruka

    China are potentially making a lot of enemies and I can see it backfiring on them both economically and politically. I wonder how long it be before China gets isolated.

  • 3

    Cletus

    KariHaruka

    China are potentially making a lot of enemies and I can see it backfiring on them both economically and politically. I wonder how long it be before China gets isolated.

    For what? For doing exactly the same as every single other nation does. Did you hear China whining a few months back when the US and Japanese held their exercises? Oh no China is holding a military exercise......

  • -5

    KariHaruka

    Cletus I meant they could make a lot of enemies and get isolated due to all the bullying they are doing towards other nations by trying to claim anything that they can get their grasp on.

  • -1

    smithinjapan

    KariHaruka: "Cletus I meant they could make a lot of enemies and get isolated due to all the bullying they are doing towards other nations by trying to claim anything that they can get their grasp on."

    Unlike Japan claiming anything THEY can get their grasp on (or can't, in most cases)? How can you say one is wrong while the other is right?

  • 0

    Tyler Vandenberg

    @ mergui1205

    A professor of economics at Yokohama City University wrote that?? I mean does he know China buys US debt for the same reason Japan does...... to keep thier currency weaker to make their products cheaper when exported to the US.... any dump or demand for repayment would backfire on them b/c 1. The US would not pay (if they are at war) this would cause the Bank of China and the banking system in China to crash China would have to bail out its banks while fighting a costly war with the US.....goodluck (a default by the US would kill the bond market, but the US could get Americans to buy bonds during a war this would be very easy) 2. We also need to look at the fact China is the single largest holder, but its 7.5% is only 26 percent of all foreign-held U.S. Treasury securities. With the rest held by American Allies a buy back program could stop a Bond market crash and save the dollar while China's currency vaule goes up b/c of the buy backs thus making their "cheap exports" not cheap at all. 3. China will never do anything as long as the US keeps letting it export its goods and has a strong military deterrence to keep China in its place, as long as these 2 things stay in place the cost of a War would be too great for China to handle. 4. The time of Japan being able to work as an export driven market has long been over reform is needed and trying to shape a foreign policy to preserve this old way would only cause more problems in Asia the 80's are over its time for Japan to allow cheap imports from others in the area so that they may grow too. How is protectionism working towards world peace?

  • 2

    vinnyfav

    smithinjapan: I like how you accuse KariHaruka for being biased against China's claims (when Japan is doing the same) when your posts state Japan's claims are "nationalistic drivel". Why don't you apply that same rhetoric to China, and the Phillipines, and Vietnam, and all the other countries stated in this article... and involved in every territorial dispute ever?

    Well, let's take this slippery slope a step further shall we? If the territorial claims of all countries involved in a dispute similar to this China/Japan drama are all "nationalistic drivel", then maybe all these countries should just give up all their claims, huh?

    Stop accusing others of being biased when your own posts absolutely reek of unsupported opinions as well. It's what we call hypocritical. Pot, kettle et all.

    Now, biased commenting aside, this military posturing by China is pretty much something the J-gov have seen coming from the moment Noda opened his big mouth to suggest buying the Senkaku islands. If they didn't expect this, then they're pretty much idiots. (Not that they aren't idiots, from their actions on other matters at the moment anyway).

    Political posturing, fake military responses, more political posturing... this is East and South East Asian politics from since 3 decades ago. I'm not sure where all the comments about "WWIII" is coming from. If WWIII happens out of this, I promise I will eat my words. In fact, I'll probably die in the conflict, since I live here. However, I assure you that chances of such a conflict breaking out is absolutely remote, as anyone remotely intelligent who has been following asian politics will tell you.

  • -1

    BertieWooster

    Now all the few Okinawans who were protesting will suddenly chirp a little less about the Ospreys and support the US military.

    I don't think so, brother Smith.

    Okinawa has traditionally had better relations with China than it has with Yamato.

    The protests about the Osprey deployment have not died out. Not by a long chalk.

  • -3

    YuriOtani

    Bertie, yes I agree so many of my friends on Okinawa do not see China as a threat. They remind me of all of the people killed by the Americans and Japanese. China has never attacked Okinawa. Thus Vinnyfav there will be no increased support for the American occupation of Okinawa.

  • 1

    Herve Nmn L'Eisa

    If China got the same treatment as Iran, it would implode.

  • 1

    ubikwit

    china has the right to assert its interests like any other nation.

    anyone opposing that right is a hypocrite.

  • 3

    ubikwit

    all of the countries involved are going to have to learn how to live with each other.

  • 0

    nigelboy

    For what?

    South China Sea Dispute

    Basic info.

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

  • -2

    Bgood41

    Naval "peaceful" war game exercise? Communist China has become the modern bully nation through economic, military, and political manipulation. The government controls and exploits the mass without hesitation. The idea of using economics interaction to change China has not been working, and same as expecting China to play fair in civilize manner. This foolish concept empowers the bully to go on unchecked. The U.S. has its own interest and will not walk away from the allies in the region. Every means including diplomacy, military, economics will be used to check this bully. China and sympathizers love to divide the region one by one, thus avoiding the international community; as shown in S.China sea disputes (e.g. bilateral negotiation). Japan must be strong and working with Western allies to stop the bully.

  • 1

    sfjp330

    Bgood41 Jul. 11, 2012 - 03:32AM JST. Naval "peaceful" war game exercise? Communist China has become the modern bully nation through economic, military, and political manipulation.

    It is a peaceful war game exercise and they are doing it in their own territory and they have every right do so. What happened recently with the U.S. and South Korea military exercise that was close to North Korea and sending message to China? U.S. does the same thing and more.

  • -1

    Bgood41

    The answer is to exercise some more if needed. Military forces for most nations have responsibility to defend and taking pro active action against any aggression for the sake of country. All nations have every right to perform any military exercises within owns border. China has built up military under the propaganda banner of "peace"? Tibet and more????

  • 0

    sfjp330

    Best thing for Japan is to not get caught up with every actions made by China. They should try to stay calm and not react with every small incident. Japan always seems to be on the edge of the seat like they've got ants in their pants. You can see that there is no confidence by J-goverment and Chinese knows that very well. It's not all China's fault for J-goverment making dumb moves that aggravates everyone else. Is this J-goverment's priority in wanting to buy real estate in a deserted island next to China? How dumb can you be?

  • 0

    freedomski

    Meneer VandenBerg wrote: "3. China will never do anything as long as the US keeps letting it export its goods and has a strong military deterrence to keep China in its place,"

    You post reflects an imperialist attitude of countries (not only US) that will keep the silly game of world dominance going.

    I agree with Ubikwit but as long as the hawks in leading positions in the powerfull countries/economies have their say over the pigeons we are a still a quite a long haul away from world peace. Eventually we'll get there is what I believe. :)

  • 0

    kurumazaka

    The PLAN is holding exercises. So what? All militaries hold exercises.

  • 0

    YuriOtani

    mergui1205, China holds about a trillion and even that is not a worry. The word is sequestership, it has happen before to fores of the USA, ask Iran and Pakistan. They would not be allowed to sell or withdraw the money. It would be put in trust for the proper government or peace.

  • -1

    Andy Dulaylomo

    what if china and the US are working secretly planning for world domination!?!?!??! maybe they are allowing things like this to happen to cover for something more serious ? : (

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