China, Japan dig in heels as rhetoric escalates over islands

I heard somewhere that China thinks Okinawa is also their original territory.

Come on, China, you are right to be offended by Japanese historical revisionism, but you have a huge country, is it really necessary for your development also that bunch of islands? Also, why can't they belong to both the countries? Yeah, I know it...I'm just dreaming.

Farmboy the Chinese have Russian versions of warships while Japan has American versions. It can become a hot war and very easily, how do you ask? Someone will make a mistake and the conflict will start. Also China is painting itself into a corner, soon there may be no other path for them. The mob in China is going to demand war. If you are American or Japanese now would be a great time to leave China.

Farmboy the Chinese have Russian versions of warships while Japan has American versions.

I don't think there will be war. But if there is, it will unlikely be warships to warships like what you see in the 19th century but probably a missile exchange which is much faster and much more effective.

Out of control, thank you very much Ishihara for kicking all this off.

National tendencies aside , japan should think of the economic consequenses, China is a huge market and Japan needs all the export money they can get.

To YuriOtani - If you are American or Japanese now would be a great time to leave China.

I totally agree with you YuriOtani. Now is an excellent opportunity to repatriatet, with a one-way ticket, thousands of Chinese living in Japan.

According to the Chinese media, some Chinese nationalists are preparing to attemp to land in the island again but this time they are gonna be even more aggressive than last time. Also if this happens and shots are exchanged or if even one Chinese life is lost in that event, the Chinese government will use that as a means to pivot itself into going to war. It's not the main government that is stirring up all this trouble. I would have to say that it is being caused by the Chinese nationalists. They are the cause of all of this. The government should put a stop to them first and then all this would scale down. If not, The US has already made it clear. Japan and the Philippines are their allies and they will defend if attacked. So it's Chinas next move.

Try it China I dare you. Attack our territories and see the consequences of your actions.

^ Ha ! Get real , what's Japan going to do.....send Hashimoto and Ishihara in a row-boat with bamboo spears ?

If I'm the US, I'll tell Japan to provoke some more (and the other countries around the area too.) China doesn't want to make any move now because it's still in the process of strengthening itself. (I heard China just hooked up with India recently.) It should be in the US best interest that China makes any move now.

I totally agree with you YuriOtani. Now is an excellent opportunity to repatriatet, with a one-way ticket, thousands of Chinese living in Japan.

Issa - I've told you before. Get off this board - in fact - go do the Japanese thing and buy yourself a noose.

China can't do anything but talk big. China doesn't want to start a war wityh the United States. If they did, they would have taken Taiwan decades ago, It;s about time that the Chinese Government put a lid on these frothing-at-the-mouth nationalists who are trying to instigate a shooting war over uninhabited rocks. Time for the US to put them on notice. The US has the right to conduct live fire excercises on two of the five Senkaku Islands uinder SOFA. I say start bombing tommorrow and see if China claims they've been bombed.

China Should sever as much tie as possible with Japan. Starting now. It's obvious Japan don't want to be friends with China.

both countries are acting like spoiled child the only country that will benefit from all this tension is the United States

When I play Civilization and create a new game, I always wish the game map generator doesn't put my nation near agressive countries. If it happens, I just start a new game.

Being near agressive countries makes it impossible to develop culture, technology, science and religion in the pace required by the game. So you loose it because the other countries will develop faster. The reason is that while you are fighting/defending with your neighbour, the other countries are focused and working to get bigger.

It is the same case now. I don't know if it is really happening. But if Japan and China are really fighting for these islands, I can assure, neither will benefit from it.

When at war or in a state of fight you always loose focus on the important matters. You also spend lots of money on the military that could be used to invest in education, entertainment, sports, art, culture...

Bad for Japan, it is real life and not possible to start a new game....

Come on, China, you are right to be offended by Japanese historical revisionism,

Oh, I think China has their own version too. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-19529867

China tried to force patriotism lessons on Hong Kong schoolchildren but was forced to back down. Their text books argue that having more than one political party leads to chaos, hence one party is best; the books also downplay Tiananmen Square and glossed over Mao's mass starvation of his own people.

Hong Kong people are proud to be Chinese, but they are not Communist Chinese - except perhaps for the handful who demonstrated in Hong Kong, a miniscule 15 in a population of millions. Unfortunately HK has a China-installed governor, which is also likely the reason that the boat was allowed to sail from HK to Senkaku last month.

china's economy is crashing, its leadership is embroiled in scandal and its VP is MIA, its air and water is polluted, there are food shortages/inflation on the horizon, is it any wonder they are playing up the nationalist card now? better be careful though, one of these days, the people will figure out that corrupt officials are selfishly lining their own pockets and not looking out for the good of the nation.

what japan needs to do is scientifically test a thermo-nuclear devise. they have the technology and with the closing of the nuclear reactors they have no shortage of fuel. after all "no nuclear-capable country has been subjected to aggression or occupied, or had its borders redrawn". if push came to shove over those rocks, i have my doubts as to whether the US will do anything other than bitch and moan. in fact they have said that its not their problem already.

fds, remember the Soviet Union which was not Russia fell apart. Having these weapons will not help the Red Chinese win a war. So tell me where is the Soviet Union today?

fds: It is not right. The US has confirmed that if any preemptive strike to Japan,America would defend Japan. Because Japan and US have a treaty and Senkaku islands were covering the area. The US Gov.knows that Senkaku is Japan since the US had ruled the area till 1972 before America returned them TO JAPAN. America did not think they ruled China then.The US ruled all Okinawa prefecture was because US has a right to take over the area based on SF treaty in 1951. The US knew they had no right to take over Chinese islands that China claims now. In case of a preemptive strike, America will get involved big time. If American people do not like this, America needs to choose a president who wants to terminate US. Japan treaty. I have learned from the conversation of this site nowadays. I assume that the average American people do not know that we have had the treaty since 1960. Japan has an OBLIGATION to support US to offer the land and finance. The US has an obligation to protect Japan. In fact many Japaneses might not like it, but Japan got from the US gov. a bill of $7.2 billion for the cost of US Marine moving cost to Guam from Okinawa. Japan is not in the position saying NO to US. One thing that US can not say NO is in case of any preemptive strike to Japanese Soil,many Americans might not like it, but the US force must defend Japan. I hope this China incident will open for a discussion of 2 nations obligations from now on. It is about time to reconsider about US. Japan treaty for the sake of Japan and US.

Somehow I think there must be a more civilised way in dealing with this situation, deporting each other is just too childish.

I hope so,too Farmboy. I would rather seeing the battle at ICJ and the world could be the witness for the histrical development. I hope Korean will do as well. So that, we will not have this kind of hot potato to the next generation. I know Japaneses people, if Japan lose the islands at ICJ, Japan will accept the fact from ICJ and the 99% decent average Japaneses will take it, since Japan has a high spirit of compliance.

I think China should just cut Japan off economically. There's nothing that says they can't close their doors towards a country that offends it's sovereignity.

I think it's time though. Time for Japan and China to bump heads again. Time heals all wounds and I guess it's true because Japan has forgotten how they were defeated in WWII. History has faded from their memories and the lust for conflict is back. We can thank Koizumi for opening Pandora's box.

China isn't a picture perfect country but Japan is even far from it with it's abductions and now this.

This is a step in the wrong direction. WWII was closed and peace and stability were brought to the region. I think Pearl Harbor needs to be put on alert and this time we won't be surprised. War is near and the U.S needs to place an embargo on Japan's fuel so they can't wage war.

@the-grouch

some Chinese nationalists are preparing to attempt to land in the island again but this time they are gonna be even more aggressive than last time.

Seeing how their actions last time consisted of jumping around like a bunch of primary school kids waving flags, and posing for photos, I doubt the Japanese government will be too concerned.

fds:what japan needs to do is scientifically test a thermo-nuclear devise. i bet your big brother, the US, won't allow u to do it. Although the US've been protecting JP, at the same time he's been watching JP from bully it's neighbors. Because he don't want to drop one more A-bomb on JP again!

China, you are right to be offended by Japanese historical revisionism, but you have a huge country, is it really necessary for your development also that bunch of islands?

Your question can give Cuba some ideas about claiming Florida. Doubt if the big neighbor would be generous in relinquishing territory there.

@Farmboy

Perhaps I should expand. Koizumi visited Yasukuni Shrine which was a major strain on relations with China. I just assumed that most people here have a good memory.

The ultimate consequence of this is Japan will drop it's pacifist constitution, and turn on it's vast nuclear weapons capability. Japan will cease to exist in a world where it's enemy China has unilateral authority and power to make demands.

There cannot be a milliseconds worth of doubt in the minds of allies and enemies alike that Japan will become a mad dog in the face of unbalanced Chinese belligerence and aggression. Otherwise, Japan's fate is to become the next Tibet. China is already claiming Okinawa, and that is only the beginning.

Nuclear weapons will be the great equalize in this conflict, and its well know Japan can turn on its capability at will. If and when that conflict comes, yes, Japan will be annihilated, but likewise, modern China will be too. Unfortunately, this is the only strategy that can contain Chinese expansionism.

Back on topic please.

^ Ha ! Get real , what's Japan going to do.....send Hashimoto and Ishihara in a row-boat with bamboo spears ?

Fool our technology is more advanced than China's. They could have a bigger army but that doesn't always win you the battle. Look up the Winter War of 1939 and the statistics between the Soviet Union and Finland.

Who would buy an item if it originally belongs to you. Can someone help me out? I think it's just another story that america and his little dog Japan try to mess up asia. like always. Just like placing a machine gun in the garden of china.

i missed the bit where this started ... what the hell is so important there? fishing grounds? offshore oil or gas ? minerals? the secret base of doctor no or doctor boskonovich ? guess i got some googling to do. Or is it just a matter of prestige and not giving in?

China isn't a picture perfect country but Japan is even far from it with it's abductions and now this.

Huh? North Korea perhaps. Yeah I know, Asia is Asia. Innit?

I think Pearl Harbor needs to be put on alert and this time we won't be surprised.

Must be getting real lonesome up there in the mountains with just a banjo for company. What's that I hear you say - time to intern all Japanese Americans?

I think the J coast guard should hurl stink bombs at the Chinese patrol boats if they get too close, worked well enough for Sea Shepheard.

china is best in bullying the smaller and weaker , so just let them to perform their experienced skill to the japan and see how really skilled chins is