U.S. faces dilemma in South China Sea response

by AP

Opinions Jul. 29, 2012 - 06:02AM JST ( 2 )

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A+b/a=a/b≡?Jul. 29, 2012 - 10:08AM JST

There are Chinese "records of these small rocks in Chinese navigation documents as far back as the 15th century. Japan's legal claim on the islands dates to 1895 (though some documents say it was earlier), when Taiwan and its surrounding islets were ceded to Japan at the end of the Sino-Japanese War. Tokyo formally incorporated them into Japanese territory shortly afterward. After World War II, however, Japan ceded Taiwan and the Paracels (see below) back to China. And because Diaoyu was traditionally part of Taiwanese territory, the government in Taipei believes it has claim to the islands. Complicating matters further, because Beijing views Taiwan as part of Chinese territory, it also claims the islands. However, in 1970, the United States and Japan signed a treaty reverting occupied Okinawa back to Japanese control which, unlike the treaty signed after World War II, explicitly mentioned Senkaku as Japanese territory. Japan cites this bilateral agreement as legal backing for its claim." -FP

This situation may not have a definite end in sight during my lifetime. But, I feel (and hope) that a military response may/will not happen.
0

edojinJul. 29, 2012 - 02:37PM JST

China's long tentacles are reaching out everywhere. Nobody wants to tangle militarily with that heavily populated nation, but somebody has to stand up to it to keep the waters of its neighbors free ...