[Snowflake]

via The Economist:

"Armed clashes over trivial specks in the East China Sea loom closer.

WATCH Chinese television these days and you might conclude that the outbreak of war with Japan over what it calls the Senkaku and China the Diaoyu islands is only a matter of time. You might well be right. Since Japan in September announced it would “nationalise” three of the islands that had been privately owned, China, which has long contested Japan’s sovereignty over them, has also started challenging its resolve to keep control of them. So both countries are claiming to own the islands and both are pretending to administer them. China this week announced its intention to map them thoroughly. Something has to give."


again, via The Economist:

"CHINA and Japan are sliding towards war. In the waters and skies around disputed islands, China is escalating actions designed to challenge decades of Japanese control. It is accompanying its campaign with increasingly blood-curdling rhetoric. Japan, says the China Daily, is the “real danger and threat to the world”. A military clash, says Global Times, is now “more likely…We need to prepare for the worst.” China appears to be preparing for the first armed confrontation between the two countries in seven decades."

[el mechanico]

Good! Let them blow eachother the fuck up so maybe we'll get our industry back. Also it may not be safe for the girls so they need to send the hot ones here first.

[scorpion]

Just sounds like dick-waving to me. I don't think either country has anything to gain by going to war with each other.

[Aliblahba]

China has been squabbling with the Philippines over a few islands and resource rich areas. Doubtful anything will come of either, but as the grab for land/resources tightens, things could escalate. Historically, China hasn't been big on conquest, but times do change.

[germanico]

(01-24-2013 10:39 AM)scorpion Wrote:  

Just sounds like dick-waving to me. I don't think either country has anything to gain by going to war with each other.

No, but they have a lot to gain by puffing out their chests and waving their fists.

[storm]

Isn't this exactly the sort of thing the UN was established to arbitrate?

[Byc]

China may be attempting to posture, but they have to be careful.

The first big thing that China has to worry about is its neighbors. Granted they've been getting along nicely with the Russians, their greatest concern is India. Now that Abe is in charge of Japan, a greater Indo-Japanese relationship is possible. Together they can change the power balance economically in Asia.

Furthermore the Chinese don't want to piss off ASEAN members. Last time they did ASEAN brought in the US to join alongside them. If China gets out of hand ASEAN members may open up their ports to the Pacific fleet which would be a huge warning to China to cut it out.

[Samseau]

Typical Asian behavior. Haven't you guys noticed how North Korea is always making outlandish claims? Asians always have a bigger bark than bite.

[BIGINJAPAN]

This isn't over a few rocks in the ocean.

This is a long time coming for the past sins of the Japanese. China has been waiting for this day when Japan is weak enough to exact revenge for the rape, torture and slaughter of innocent Chinese civilians.

[Wreckingball]

Chinese and Japanese waving dicks aint no problem because it makes no wind.

[Ovid]

China could care less about Japanese war crimes which occurred 70 years ago. Their government would rape Nanking all over again if they thought it would benefit the power of the state or provide an economic boost. This is about money and resources (nobody cared about the Senkaku Islands until it was discovered that there might be natural gas or oil in the area) and China is trying to establish itself as a real power to be taken seriously, by pressing its claims to them. Both sides are justifying their intransigence by appealing to national pride. It's easy for the Japanese because they are culturally xenophobic and think themselves superior, (and because they've had de facto control of the islands for a hundred years) and it's easy for the Chinese because their people can be easily whipped into frenzy by the specter of WWII Japanese atrocities. Probably it's all a bunch of posturing and nothing will come of it.

[BIGINJAPAN]

(01-27-2013 09:05 PM)Ovid Wrote:  

China could care less about Japanese war crimes which occurred 70 years ago. Their government would rape Nanking all over again if they thought it would benefit the power of the state or provide an economic boost. This is about money and resources (nobody cared about the Senkaku Islands until it was discovered that there might be natural gas or oil in the area) and China is trying to establish itself as a real power to be taken seriously, by pressing its claims to them. Both sides are justifying their intransigence by appealing to national pride. It's easy for the Japanese because they are culturally xenophobic and think themselves superior, (and because they've had de facto control of the islands for a hundred years) and it's easy for the Chinese because their people can be easily whipped into frenzy by the specter of WWII Japanese atrocities. Probably it's all a bunch of posturing and nothing will come of it.

Do you have family or you yourself every been part of a country that feels like it has had war crimes committed against it ? Trust me, people do not forget and 70 years is not long enough to wipe the minds of families affected by this. Not even the russians or germans were as brutal to their enemies as asians are to their's.

One day America will find this out from its enemies around the world. People do not forget.

[Nonpareil]

Most of my students and most of the people I know hate Japan...they play their PSPs, they wear Citizen watches and they drive Acuras, but they hate Japan.

[Screwston]

(01-27-2013 11:54 PM)BIGINJAPAN Wrote:  

Do you have family or you yourself every been part of a country that feels like it has had war crimes committed against it ? Trust me, people do not forget and 70 years is not long enough to wipe the minds of families affected by this. Not even the russians or germans were as brutal to their enemies as asians are to their's.

One day America will find this out from its enemies around the world. People do not forget.

By who and how? You sound like you have a personal problem with America sometimes.

[Blackhawk]

Off shore drilling rights are worth a lot more money nowadays, making previously worthless islands worth a whole lot.

Historically, post industrialization, China gets its ass kicked by Japan. Japan's invasion of China during WWII was pretty damn brutal, with even crazy attempts to spread the black plague through China to reduce the population. Japan is nearing the end of its post-WWII baby boom gray wave and at the moment looks weak. China is just beginning it's post-WWII baby boom gray wave, and in denial about its future.

If China presses too hard, the US will allow Japan to have an army again.

Strategically, this is a pretty dumb move for China.

[BIGINJAPAN]

(01-29-2013 12:53 AM)houston Wrote:  

(01-27-2013 11:54 PM)BIGINJAPAN Wrote:  

Do you have family or you yourself every been part of a country that feels like it has had war crimes committed against it ? Trust me, people do not forget and 70 years is not long enough to wipe the minds of families affected by this. Not even the russians or germans were as brutal to their enemies as asians are to their's.

One day America will find this out from its enemies around the world. People do not forget.

By who and how? You sound like you have a personal problem with America sometimes.

Ever read the book blowback by Chalmers Johnson ? I think most americans have not realized what their government has done around the world. You may think Japan is an ally, but I am certain they have just as much disdain for americans as do the arabs or the russians. Especially the citizens of Okinawa.

Would you ever forget if you witnessed your wife and children being blown up by a drone attack ? Or perhaps your daughter being raped by 5 or 6 american soldiers ? How about cities being leveled by atomic bombs after the government already tried to surrender ?

I am not naive and think Canada is innocent either. We have been dragged into Afghanistan and now have resentment from the Arab world as well. Hence why I would never set foot in somewhere like Pakistan or Egypt for the time being.

For the record I love the US and its people. But for fuck sakes the ignorance of North Americans is going to bite us all in the ass. Maybe not in our lifetime, but the day of reckoning will come. I don't know what potential enemy it will be, but you have to admit, especially the US isn't very good at making friends the last 50 years.

[Dulceácido]

(01-24-2013 10:39 AM)scorpion Wrote:  

Just sounds like dick-waving to me. I don't think either country has anything to gain by going to war with each other.

When I read this, I was struck with a vision that was simply hysterical. Armies of Chinese and Japanese naked from the waist down, facing off on a field of battle, trying (but failing) to do "the helicopter" with really tiny wieners.

[clever alias]

hating japan is looked down on in china by most educated young people. the anti japanese are considered uneducated and backwards. theres nationalism yes, but not downright hate for the japanese.
there probably wont be armed conflict, the two countries are too economically interlocked