China's spats call into question 'peaceful rise'

The Chinese leadership will continue to be egocentric in the medium term. The latest fishing boat incident with South Korea have shown they learn nothing from previous diplomatic failures.

hahahaha china's rise is much peaceful compared to the US and other former superpowers like the soviets.

japan doesnt need to worry. china doesnt plan on using something like 'Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere' concept. that concept only belongs to a country like japan.

Washington also regularly criticizes Beijing’s massive trade surplus, its human rights record at home and economic policies that U.S. lawmakers say cost American jobs.

who cares about the US. they should stop killing innocent civilians in the middle east, kidnapping civilians in other countries, and stop spying on the UN security council.

"The U.S. will never allow China to challenge its leadership and will try to ‘contain’ China’s rise,” analysts Zheng Jie and Zhong Feiteng wrote in a regional security report for the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences released this week"

This is absolutely correct. The United States has a policy of not permitting any one power to attain complete strategic hegemony in any region of the world. China today is up there with Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan in this regard.

ravagesoftimes at 06:51 AM JST - 31st December hahahaha china's rise is much peaceful compared to the US and other >former superpowers like the soviets.

Laugh all you want but China is the most feared and distrusted country in all of Asia. But that's not enough they have to fight with Norway too? The USA is a superpower today, not "former". Even Post-USSR Russia blows China away which is still a "developing country" according to the Chinese government themselves.

OssanAmerica

This is absolutely correct. The United States has a policy of not permitting any one power to attain complete strategic hegemony in any region of the world. China today is up there with Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan in this regard.

ROFL! are you kidding me? china is up there with nazi germany? complete strategic hegemony? last i checked, it is the US who is invading countries and bombing people. last i checked, it is the US who has 700+ military bases around the world. thank heavens that china and russia exists to put the americans back in their place. china is the historical power of asia and will always be. oh btw, OssanAmerica, the whole world is not america's territory. they are not world police and they do not have any rights to decide who can become superpower. thank heavens the US is declining.

OssanAmerica

Laugh all you want but China is the most feared and distrusted country in all of Asia. But that's not enough they have to fight with Norway too? The USA is a superpower today, not "former". Even Post-USSR Russia blows China away which is still a "developing country" according to the Chinese government themselves.

im laughing really hard. the US self-imposed image of being everyone's best trusted friend, world policeman, the protector of human rights, the model of freedom and democracy, is all ruined because of a single brave genious called Julian Assange. the US is a superpower in decline and their own greed and arrogance is the cause of it. the whole world is sick of their illegal wars and CIA sneaky operations.

As I said laugh all you want. You suppport a government that jails a nobel prize winner because he wrote about democracy. Yes, China is a totalitarian dictatorship and so was Nazi Germany. We all know what eventually happens to such governments historically. The United States may be in decline relatibe to where it was decades ago. But you can brest assured it will never be surpassed by China because as a leader inadvocating democracy it is supported by masny other nations. What country supports China besides other dictatorships like North Korea or Myanmar? For this reason, regardless of economic power, China will never be a leader of Asia or anywhere. Guess this article really got your goat. Truth hurts.

OssanAmerica

As I said laugh all you want. You suppport a government that jails a nobel prize winner because he wrote about democracy. Yes, China is a totalitarian dictatorship and so was Nazi Germany. We all know what eventually happens to such governments historically. The United States may be in decline relatibe to where it was decades ago. But you can brest assured it will never be surpassed by China because as a leader inadvocating democracy it is supported by masny other nations. What country supports China besides other dictatorships like North Korea or Myanmar? For this reason, regardless of economic power, China will never be a leader of Asia or anywhere. Guess this article really got your goat. Truth hurts.

nice try. your comparison of china with nazi germany is absolutely hilarious. the only country to come as close to nazi germany is ofcourse imperial japan. and has china in there 5000yr history ever tried to do what japan did in ww2? not even close. as for the US, they are THE MOST HATED COUNTRY ON EARTH. oh wow 'freedom and democracy' huh? since when has that given the american the rights to invade any country they like illegally and bomb innocent civilians? lets not forget creating LIES to go to war - gulf of tonkin, iraq WMDs. the US is a 'leader' when it comes to killing people around the world. the US rise to superpower is one which went to war and spilled innocent blood. while china has not invaded a single western country in their 5000yr history and not one country in the last 30yrs.

so which is more 'peaceful' - the US or china? or we can also compare the history between china and japan and see which one of them ever came close to being as bad as nazi germany?

China is a despot nation that has massacred millions of its own people and keeps them oppressed, whether you like religion or not it also tries to dictate what people can believe in ( I often wonder why so many Muslims are angry at America and the west when China censures both the Koran and the Bible and dictates who can or cannot worship or become Imams and priest).

China say one thing and then does another they say they want to ease tension but as we speak they are preparing for this springs launch of an Icebreaker research ship that is planing on heading into the Arctic to claim "its rights there" (yes folks the ARCTIC) China has some how come to some amazing conclusion that it has "rights" to territory in the Arctic.

If China can through some twisted logic make claims in the Arctic then EVERY neighbor needs to watch out because China will claim their territory sooner or later.

No at this point China is acting like it has acted for the past 1000 years as the conquering power it always tried to be only to be stopped by Japan and the west and it doesn't seem to have learned it lesson.

limboinjapan

No at this point China is acting like it has acted for the past 1000 years as the conquering power it always tried to be only to be stopped by Japan and the west and it doesn't seem to have learned it lesson.

wow what sort of history has been taught to you? has china EVER EVER tried to invade japan in the 5000yr history of china? do i need to remind you that in japan's history, japan tried to conquer china and asia TWICE. the first attempt was in 1592 when japan planned to conquer korea, china, india, and jurchen. this was the first world war in asia. fortunately, japan was stopped by china and korea. japan still refused to learn from history and attempted to conquer asia again in the 20th century, which resulted in over 20 million deaths alone in china, and many around asia. so WHO ARE YOU to call china a "conquering power"? japan and the west INVADED china and carved her into pieces. that was due to imperialism and not because china was an "conquering power". i know japan distort history but you just went to such low levels its unbelievable.

ravages............ no need to to go on about Jpns history everyone here is well aware of it!

That said China has like Jpn in the past fought amongst themselves for 1000s of yrs, now China is clearly setting its sights outside its borders, yes kinda like Jpn did.

The world is rightly VERY weary of China, problem with China is it is literally screwed no matter what it does because it will be in for future conflict from either within(economy implodes when bubble bursts, the Chinese wont sit peacefully as we have already seen), or from outside if it gets to nasty with neighbours then MANY countries will rally to fix things, Russia & NK throw wrenches into that no doubt.

My guess is China will try for the latter rather than implode from within, as I said I see this coming one way or another, China is just to big & volatile for ANYONE to manage successfully for the long term unfortunately!

Look at the United Kingdom since 1918, the US may follow the same path. We need to engage any up and coming powers like India and China wisely, not calling names . Imagine China stops going to the US bond auction and what that will do to the US economy. Japan did that for 2 days years ago and we stopped japanese bashing real quick. Don't think china doesn't learn from that !!

WOW @ravagesoftimes you really need a history lesson unless you discount the Yuan invasion of Japan was actually the Mongols (of course with the backing of the Chinese,Jurchen and Koreans (which they also China invaded on several occasions) but then China and you will claim that was the Mongols but at the same time China and you will also claim all the territory conquered during the Mongol rise as de facto Chinese territory, its one of those well they did it but we get to keep it!

AH yes selective picking of History, I do like it, it make things so easy to wash ones hands.

As for 20 million death cause by Japan the conservative death told of Chinese at the hands of the CCP is at 60 million.(not counting the civil war if we add in that and then the cleaning after boy will that number rise).

China at one point or another under one regime or another has invaded or attempted to invade every single one of its neighbors and that continues today, in the last 65 year total countries attacked or invaded by Japan = 0 total number of countries attacked or invaded or in violent conflict with China = aprox 6.

I think the record speaks for its self.

If China can through some twisted logic make claims in the Arctic then EVERY neighbor needs to watch out because China will claim their territory sooner or later...............

with the same logic, then why there are so many nations far far away from the South Pole have bases there ?

GW

ravages............ no need to to go on about Jpns history everyone here is well aware of it!

except for limboinjapan. hes been taught a different history.

That said China has like Jpn in the past fought amongst themselves for 1000s of yrs, now China is clearly setting its sights outside its borders, yes kinda like Jpn did.

china's border disputes are all based on historic claims, like the other countries also involved in them. just like how korea and japan's claim on dokdo/takeshima is all based on history. is china today claiming a territory that they never had historic connection with? NO.

The world is rightly VERY weary of China, problem with China is it is literally screwed no matter what it does because it will be in for future conflict from either within(economy implodes when bubble bursts, the Chinese wont sit peacefully as we have already seen), or from outside if it gets to nasty with neighbours then MANY countries will rally to fix things, Russia & NK throw wrenches into that no doubt.

how do you know if it will be china who is in the fault? how do you know if it wont be the other huh? look at the russia-georgia conflict. everyone in the west thought it was russia's fault because they were historically seen as the bad guy during the cold war. but then it turns out to be the georgia who provoked the war. its obvious that the arrogant US will br rubbing their hands in excitement if something kicks off because they will use whatever means to contain china.

My guess is China will try for the latter rather than implode from within, as I said I see this coming one way or another, China is just to big & volatile for ANYONE to manage successfully for the long term unfortunately!

what is this? china will start invading everyone rather than implode from within? hilarious stuff.

ravagesoftime said: "the us rise to superpower is one which went to war and spilled innocent blood."

LMAO... Really? Because the U.S. started it's rise to superpower status during WW2. So exactly which innocent blood was spilled by the U.S. that you would be refering to? Because the U.S. was at war with big, bad Japan, you know the country that you like to bash. The U.S. was also at war with Nazi Germany, along with Facist Italy. And as you bash the U.S. for being the superpower that it is, I didn't notice China turning down any U.S. assistance during that war. I also notice how the article pointed out that China views it's ties with the U.S. (Washington) as it's MOST important foreign relationship. I also don't think China has the U.S. in check as you would like to fantasize, seeing as how the U.S. went through with it's arms sales to Taiwan, in spite of Chinese opinion.

oberst:"with the same logic, then why there are so many nations far far away from the South Pole have bases there ?"

You need to check your info, there are but a few countries in that region that claim any sovereignty over the Antarctic most of the world including all those with research bases there have agreed that it is to remain politically Neutral.

But there is a bigger difference and that is that the Arctic physically borders several nations with long standing sovereignty and (albeit sparsely) it has been and is populated for thousands of years by the people or those bordering nations.

Also countries that are not bordering the Antarctic only have reserved the right to claim and not maid claims and are only doing this so that the few countries claiming will not try and push their claims ending the "neutral" status of Antarctica.

No claim or agreement of "neutral" territory has ever been made concerning the Arctic and the boundaries have been more or less fixed for centuries only with modern technology have a few disputes arisen and these are among the nations that directly border the area.

Now China is claiming invalid well establish sovereignty by these nations and claiming that despite full incorporation by these nations long ago the arctic is now a freely open territory open for exploration and staking claims.

This would be like Canada claiming that Inner Mongolia is not actually Chinese territory and therefore the presently uninhabited parts are open to claims by other nations.

ravages,

in case you havent realized there are only a few Japanese who post here, most are non-japanese.

Do you seriously think the commies in China can continue to develop China & keep its people in check??? Havent you heard how the military is used for crowd control in China, they toss out inhabitants to make high rises, shut down demos at companies................

So again I ask do you seriously think the commies can maintain control say when the Chinese bubble bursts & millions are outta work etc, it will get insane as the Chinese wont just sit and take it, that is why I said China is screwed either way, they are currently just buying time is all.

Dont get me wrong I dont wish for this, not at all believe me, BUT I see it coming!

Yes, 2010 was a diplomatic and PR disaster for China. They let Japan walk all over it in the Senkaku island dispute, and Japan made China look really scary. China thinks it can use the same strong arm force it uses against its citizens against other countries, and that doesn't work. Japan won because it is a master of "soft power", the only power it has been able to exercise since the war. They won the image game. China has been decreasing rare earths for more than 2 years, but Japan was able to work that into the scary image as well. Chinese response was totally incompetent. China's strong arm tactics do not make it look like a peaceful country ("Go to Stockholm, and there will be consequences!"), but like a bully, spoiled child, or brat.

China murdered millions pf its own people under the name of communism. It maintains a substantial domestic paramilitary force.

As long as the communists hold onto power through non-democratic means, China cannot be trusted.

ravagesoftimes:"is china today claiming a territory that they never had historic connection with? NO."

Again I think you need to start reading some history books that are not on the approved CCP list.

China has never had any claim or control of the Kashmir region they now have and is still in dispute they just took advantage of India and Pakistan war to "Liberate" the area in the name of "socialism" (actually communism).

And I will again refer you to China's latest claim with regards to the Arctic (find me even one piece of historical evidence in this case).

Ravagesoftimes, your problem here is that most on JT are playing with a full deck of historical cards as you are playing with half a deck of CCP censured cards.

The dispute over Spratly islands is China vs Taiwan vs Vietnam vs Philippine vs Malaysia vs Brunei. Not between China vs others all in one. Japan should not buy into unmindfully such a stained logic in Hillary's assertion that the U.S. has a stake in the Southeast Asian nations’ territorial spats with Beijing. Arc to contain China from the seaside nations has actually not much sense seeing as the vast inland states to the Caspian Sea such as Kazakhstan and other central Asian countries seem uninterested in containing China. Even Saudi Arabia didn't send its delegation to the Nobel prize award ceremony this year.

So, Japan better not take anyone's side especially but rather pat on China's back and urge her to give a good account of her problems for her promise of a “peaceful rise" and let her challenge the U.S. leadership if she aspires at all by being convincingly great.

China censors Facebook and other social networking sites. China allows a grand total of just 20 foreign movies to be screened (not just US/Hollywood, but 20 from the entire WORLD outside China) internally per year. China regularly threatens her neighbors through economic and military might.

Why is this even a QUESTION as to whether China is a danger to global freedom??

i agree with LimoboinJapan. I also believe that we have had many Historical issues. But what we did wrong was Help china & allow Jobs to be sent there. we shopuld have been importing from Japan. china isnt trusted however i think they do some things in a positive way, BUT Being soft on North Korea isn't one of them. Building ahuge Military when theres NO threat to them is also a concern. many Asian Nations just don't trust them & who will be president in china in the next 15 - 20 Years? IF it comes down to it(if china pulls a Hitler) several Nation will use Nuclear weapons Thats why they exsist. to make sure No country will try to take over

Well - actually China DID try to invade Japan a LONG time ago (like many centuries ago) -the invasion fleet was wiped out by the "Divine WInds" or typhoons.

As for Beijing - the government has enough problems trying to keeps it's 1.6 billion people employed, fed, clothed and reasonably happy. They don't really have the time nor the energy to go invading other countries - unlike a certain alphabet nation, nor do they engage in "extraordinary renditions" and the torture of foreign nationals. If China really were lawless - how long do you think those chinese officials who embezzled billions and then fled with their loot to CANADA would survive. It's very easy for China to implement an extraordinary rendition program to repatriate its criminals - but they generally play as fair as other UN nations.

And as a final jab - don't forget that the Afghani terrorists currently spilling american blood were trained apparently too well by the CIA.

What must also kill Beijing is that, in spite of all that's happened in history so far, majority of nations would probably trust the US military (or even the Japanese self-defense force) on their soil rather than the PLA.

ravagesoftimes at 10:21 AM JST - 31st December nice try. your comparison of china with nazi germany is absolutely >hilarious. the only country to come as close to nazi germany is ofcourse >imperial japan. and has china in there 5000yr history ever tried to do >what japan did in ww2?

Imperial Japan ended in 1945. For 65 years Japan has been a peaceful democratic nation. Since the PRC was established in 1949 they have fought wars with India and Vietnam and are threatening all of their Asian neighbors. China has shifted from "communism" to "nationalism" to hold it populace togther. That makes them Nationalist Socialists, controlled by a one party totalitarian dictatorship. Sound familar? Yes, China today is like Nazi Germany. And like them they are building up their military threatening all of their neighbors.

the US, they are THE MOST HATED COUNTRY ON EARTH. oh wow 'freedom and >democracy' huh?

Yes under freedom and democracy you can post your nonsense without it being censored or you and your family being thrown into jail, something you can't do in China.

while china has not invaded a single western country in their 5000yr >history and not one country in the last 30yrs.

Really? Shall we ask the Indians and Vietnamese?

@seaforte03-Also, don't forget that little country Vietnam that China also has tried to invade more than once. And how well were those "Afghani Terrorists" trained? Because they aren't doing near as well against the United States, as they did against that other alphabet nation the former USSR aka CCCP. lmao

I agree most posters. Japan has great big "soft power". You will see it in 2011.

At any rate, modern China was enabled by the US, Japan, and Euroland by moving all its production over there and then importing all those "Made in China" products, thereby enriching the government. China is OUR creation, so put up or shut up.

@shinjukubou-Very well said!!

At any rate, modern China was enabled by the US, Japan, and Euroland by moving all its production over there and then importing all those "Made in China" products, thereby enriching the government. China is OUR creation, so put up or shut up.

You would rather have seen them become like Stalinist North Korea?

Sorry for my poor writing, jasperandy, what I meant to say is: Don't be fooled by the strained logic by the U.S. that China oppresses South‐East Asian Nations over the Spratly islands. The attempt to contain China by rallying so called "oceanic nations" will not make much sense seeing as the vast inland nations to the west of China are not interested in the attempt. Besides China seems to have broken with Israel. So, instead of taking sides with anybody Japan should urge China to sort out her problems so as to keep her promise of "peaceful rise" and let her challenge the U.S. leadership if she really aspires to by becoming a truly great country. The point is Japan should get along well with China at any cost keeping in mind that a feud with China is just what somebody welcomes even historically. Did I make myself understood?

To Seiharinokaze,

You are correct on that point. The "containment policy" by George Kennan is going to be revived. After winter, keep your eyes on the Indian Ocean.

I have been patiently waiting for this policy to start since the late 1990's.

I look forward to the peaceful demise of the ruling party in China.

Seiharinokaze at 05:23 PM JST - 1st January Don't be fooled by the strained logic by the U.S. that China oppresses >South‐East Asian Nations over the Spratly islands. The attempt to >contain China by rallying so called "oceanic nations" will not make much >sense seeing as the vast inland nations to the west of China are not >interested in the attempt.

That China is pushing it's territorial expansion in the South and East China Seas is a known fact. The Senkaku incident and China's attitude and reaction towards what was really nothing more than a maritime police incident, turning it into a territorial, political, economic issue hardly calls for any "strained logic". It's simply reality. A containment plan among the democratic (and even non-democratic) Asian nations who are concerned about China's militarey buidup and aggresive tone with the United States in lead has been brewing for many years now. And just what the positions of the inland nations bordering China to the west have to do with China's attempt to exert control of the South and East China Seas escapes me. Perhaps you could clarify the relevance.

Besides China seems to have broken with Israel. So, instead of taking >sides with anybody Japan should urge China to sort out her problems so as to keep her promise of "peaceful rise" and let her challenge the U.S. >leadership if she really aspires to by becoming a truly great country.

The probability that Japan can "urge China" to do anything and to keep it's promise of a "peaceful rise" if they don't want to is absolutely Zero. Furthermore I think you are kidding yourself if you think that a one party undemocratic totalitarian dictatorship can become a "truly great country" without resorting to stepping on the toes of all of it's neighbors. Historically that has never happened.

The point is Japan should get along well with China at any cost keeping >in mind that a feud with China is just what somebody welcomes even >historically. Did I make myself understood?

Yes, that's the position that the govt of Japan, the current DPJ adminstration took by releasing the drunk Chinese boat captain without prosecuting him for his ramming actions. Do you remember what China did in return? They demanded an apology and compensation from Japan, made the drunk captain a national hero and started the usual anti-Japanese flag burning demonstrations. That's really getting along well isn't it? Or do you think Japan should have apologized and paid China compensation for being rammed?

To Seiharinokaze,

I have a VERY good chance of being a prophet - Indian Ocean action after the Chinese New Year. Re-read former Pres. Eisenhower's Farewell Address. The US is committed to the groundwork established by the Clinton Administration, and quite frankly, there are few options.

Obviously, something would have to happen to justify a massive armada moving into that area.

To Seiharinokaze.

Thank you for the the re post.

OssanAmerica,

Territorial rights to the Spratly Islands are claimed by each nation around there. I think it's a bit strained logic to take it mostly as China's expansionism. If the Senkaku incident was really nothing more than a maritime police incident, they should release the entire 80 or so minutes footage to the public instead of reprimanding the officer who released a part of it on the internet so that we may know what really happened.

And just what the positions of the inland nations bordering China to the west have to do with China's attempt to exert control of the South and East China Seas escapes me. Perhaps you could clarify the relevance.

America's attempt to exert control of the South and East China Seas may escape China who has vast inland resourceful nations bordering it to the west. A plan to contain China among South and East Asian nations is like water off a peking duck's back, when SCO (the Shanghai Cooperation Organization) may even take those nations under its wing someday. If one party undemocratic totalitarian dictatorship can become a truly capitalistic country even challenging the position of No.1 economy, how can it not become a "truly great country" too? The shrewd bottom-liner may be just calculating the right moment to shed what they will have optimized.

Seiharinokaze at 06:33 PM JST - 2nd January Territorial rights to the Spratly Islands are claimed by each nation >around there. I think it's a bit strained logic to take it mostly as >China's expansionism.

Why? China itself has declared their right to control the South and East China Seas, ie; natural resources and strategic dominance. They have told the Asian countries that they simply must accept China's dominance simply because "China is a big country and they are little countries" and therefore should not except a fair relationship. China has declared these areas to be "core interests" and declared that they absolutely will not give them up. These are not words comming from the U.S. they are from the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

If the Senkaku incident was really nothing more than a maritime police >incident, they should release the entire 80 or so minutes footage to the >public instead of reprimanding the officer who released a part of it on >the internet so that we may know what really happened.

Yes exactly! But the Japanese government acted exactly as you yourself advocate that they do - "Japan should get along well with China at any cost"

America's attempt to exert control of the South and East China Seas may >escape China who has vast inland resourceful nations bordering it to the >west. A plan to contain China among South and East Asian nations is like >water off a peking duck's back, when SCO (the Shanghai Cooperation >Organization) may even take those nations under its wing someday.

You appear to miss the point of "containment". Strategic control of navigation in the South and East China Seas enables China to cut off the oil supply from the mideast to the democratic Asian countries. The United States is bound by treaties to defend a number of democratic Asian nations. You also appear to be grossly underestimating the degree of concern held by the Asian nations in regards to China's territorial claims and expansionism. These nations are not mixing economic relations with geopolitical relations, something that China clearly wishes to advance.

If one party undemocratic totalitarian dictatorship can become a truly >capitalistic country even challenging the position of No.1 economy, how >can it not become a "truly great country" too?

China, a one party undemocratic dictatorship has only become a capitalist (and can you blame them - every other economic approach has failed miserably since 1949)obe party undemocratic dictatorship. China has pulled the wool over the world's eyes by arguing that it is on a "peaceful rise", the west foolishly took China's word that they would move closer to democracy together with their improved economy. How are you defining a "truly great country"? By military power? Economic power? THen China certainly can become "great". But if you define it as a country that sets an example for others albeit far from perfect and strives to advance freedom, democracy and individual human rights, to support the oppressed minority and attain the respect of it;s allie and peers, then China may become "great" on it's own but it will never become a "leader" of Asia much less the entire world.

The shrewd bottom-liner >may be just calculating the right moment to shed what they will have >optimized.

"Peaceful rise" sounds better than "Give me your wallet and nobody gets hurt."

What spats? Maybe spats with the US snooping their borders, from 5000 miles away but we'd spat with them if they were snooping off the coast of Seattle, SF or San Diego.

Ravagesof time- I'm keen to listen to your response regarding your severe lack of historical understanding..

Sorry for cutting in.

OssanAmerica,

They (China) have told the Asian countries that they simply must accept China's dominance simply because "China is a big country and they are little countries" and therefore should not expect a fair relationship.

When and where did China tell such a thing to them?

The reason why I suggested that they should release the entire footage of the ships collision at the Senkaku islands is because it's not clear how it started. Which side took a provocative attitude actually? Or did it take two to make it as if there are some people on both sides who want to prevent both countries from getting along well?

Strategic control of navigation in the South and East China Seas enables China to cut off the oil supply from the mideast to the democratic Asian countries.

What merit will China get by cutting off the oil supply from the Middle East to the democratic Asian countries? South East Asian Nations do not want any country's hegemony in the region and at the same time they do not want confrontation with China. What Japan should do is to sympathize with their real intention and sweat and strive for realizing it instead of just lining up with the U.S. and funning confrontation. Or rather the U.S. is just trying to move its battlefield to East Asia from Iraq and Afghan because their military adventures out there went wrong?

As for your last question on the definition of a "truly great country", I would add to it that a great country does not abuse a key currency as endless fictitious bills or confuse the irrational maximization of greed by the laws of probability with rationality.

Seiharinokaze- Did you just imply that China does not abuse their currency?? Wow. Pot, meet Kettle.

Regardless of many factors, nations wouldn't follow by choice any totalitarian regime as a leader. Yeah, one could say all nations are a bit totalitarian in some way, but the less totalitarian, the better. It's just human nature.

ElJeffeEnJapon,

They manipulate their currency to export so that you can buy goods of fairly good quality at a reasonable price and the resulting trade surplus they get is used to finance your State budget, which means that unless they "abuse" their currency the bonds they bought will become a mere scrap of paper which they fear measures up to the actual marrow of the U.S., a great country. Pot or kettle, they're making the best of a bad job.

Seiharinokaze at 02:59 PM JST - 4th January Sorry for cutting in. OssanAmerica, "They (China) have told the Asian countries that they simply must accept China's dominance simply because "China is a big country and they are little countries" and therefore should not expect a fair relationship." When and where did China tell such a thing to them?

"At the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) meeting in Hanoi in July 2010, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi―fuming at the temerity of 12 countries who had raised the contentious South China Sea dispute―stared at his Singaporean counterpart and thundered “China is a big country and other countries are small countries and that is just a fact.”

The reason why I suggested that they should release the entire footage >of the ships collision at the Senkaku islands is because it's not clear >how it started. Which side took a provocative attitude actually? Or did >it take two to make it as if there are some people on both sides who >want to prevent both countries from getting along well?

The entire video is really of no vslue. The portions that have become available for all to see clearly show the Chinese fishing boat ramming the JCG vessels. Twice. From behind, not even an accidental collision. Who is at fault is an absurd question to even raise, after all Chinese fishing boats have been routinely ordered out of those waters by the JCG for years without any incidents. This time the Chinese captain was drunk and rammed them. In other words this was nohing more than a routine maritime olice incident. The capt was corrctly arrested, should have been charged and prosecuted, fined whatever, and sent off on his way. China should have treated it for what it was and requesed the right for Chinese diplomatic attendance. But instead they turned it into a territorial, poltical and economic issue confirming the mistrust and fears of all of their ASian neighbors.

What merit will China get by cutting off the oil supply from the Middle >East to the democratic Asian countries?

Strategic dominance and control over the energy lifelines from the Persian Gulf to the Asian nations, incliding those with which China maintains territorial disputes.

South East Asian Nations do not want any country's hegemony in the >region and at the same time they do not want confrontation with China.

Asian nations aren't concerned abut US hegemony because US strategic dominance does not equal hegemony or territorial claims. They are concerned about China and want he US presence as a counter balance to China's threatening posture.

What Japan should do is to sympathize with their real intention and >sweat and strive for realizing it instead of just lining up with the >U.S. and funning confrontation. Or rather the U.S. is just trying to >move its battlefield to East Asia from Iraq and Afghan because their >military adventures out there went wrong?

Total nonsense. Japan alog with other democtratic and even non-democtratic Asian nations are lining up with a country that that China ca not bully and will not risk engaging.

As for your last question on the definition of a "truly great country", >I would add to it that a great country does not abuse a key currency as >endless fictitious bills or confuse the irrational maximization of greed >by the laws of probability with rationality.

Truly great countries don't occupy lands, claim it's been theirs for thousands of years and ship in their own people to turn the indigenous ones into a second class minority. Truly great nations don't jail their citizens for writing about democracy. Truly great nationms don't become the target of fear and mistrust by all of their neighbors.

Seiharinokaze- Sure... China manipulates their currency just to allow American consumers to purchase Chinese products and ONLY uses their trade surplus to buy US bonds (to finance the budget). OK!!

Is that why when the international community began pressuring Beijing to adjust the value of its currency last year to normal levels, Beijing turned around and ALLOWED Chinese workers to striker for higher wages at FOREIGN owned factories? I don't recall any civil unrest at State run manufacturing centers.

A lot of anti-US / pro-China forces on here. Really amazing considering all the free speech you can have in China.....

Wait, no you can't. And a friendly rise of China is a good thing? Wow. I think some of you on here that are in China's corner to move there and tell us what it's like, and how great the country is before knocking US/Japanese relations.

If Americans were really patriotic like some like to claim, they'd stop buying anything made in China. But, they won't because they are blowhards that can be bought and will sell out their country for a few bucks saved.

If Americans were really patriotic like some like to claim, they'd stop buying anything made in China

free trade has enriched America beyond measure. Where are you from, vulcan? I bet I could find a dozen reasons to boycott your country. But like most Americans I don't believe in the brand of mercantilism you espouse.Reeks of nascent fascism and a poor grasp of economics.

Economics is good,buying from the enemy who is using the profits to build up its military is bad economics. Call it what you want, racism, fascism whatever.. the bottom line is, they are using our dollars to boost their military.

ElJeffeEnJapon, the international community now is manipulating their currencies by putting them out in great volume to the market. When the devil drives they must emulate Beijing somehow or other. Devalue their own currency is the world norm now. See what South Korea does guiltily. China is just shamelessly clever, knowing perhaps that China's rise will be realized peacefully as they ride out America's liquidation if with a bit of berserk fury. Though as many as 100,000 cases of civil unrest at state run work places are reported annually in China, which seems to have escaped you, it may still act to improve rather than implode China.

FYG, OssanAmerica, majority of the North American continent has also been occupied by people who came from other parts of the world whether or not the indigenous ones are now treated as a second class minority. The definition seems to be invalid or great countries are all of a sort.

Hehe, inflation was and is the only answer to the lending binge the world economy went on over the last 10 years.

Don't bet on the US being liquidated any time soon. This little "bond trap game" they are playing with China is an old trick that was perfected after WW2. The US entered into the game very willingly and they wouldn't have done so if it was so stupid. China, much like Japan makes very little out of the financial element of the bond trap game they make out quite nice because they have a customer that can afford their products.

China will rise, that's for sure. I wonder if they're going to screw everything up. Quite possible... on the other hand when you have to hold together a country of 1.3 billion people that doesn't leave a lot of time for international meddling...

Seiharinokaze at 12:55 AM JST - 6th January FYG, OssanAmerica, majority of the North American continent has also >been occupied by people who came from other parts of the world whether >or not the indigenous ones are now treated as a second class minority. >The definition seems to be invalid or great countries are all of a sort.

For YOUR guidance Seiharinokaze, no North or South American country whines and conplains to other countries for letting in any leaders of any aborginial or minority people. Only China has that dubious distinction.

Vulcan: You seem to confuse patriotism with the Democrats idea of free trade. With wide open trading in the US with little to no tariffs, companies will manufacture their goods at the lowest price (Chinese labor). And sell them at rates that are lower than domestically produced goods (hence Wal-Mart). China will continue to grow as long as the consumer feeds this loop.

So now the question for you Vulcan: Are you a patriot? And for what country? You detest the US, love Okinawa, and hate Japan. Time to come clean.

Sei- Keep on spewing the party line. And by the way, only 100,000 cases of civil unrest at state run work places in a population of 1.3 bil?? I'd love to see where you get your information. Does this account for ALL state run work places? (ie. offices, sanitation, fishing, cafeterias etc..) My point was that, Beijing's response to increased international pressure on their currency resulted in only Foreign factories being temporarily shut down due to labor strikes. Allowing/recording civil unrest (very broad term here by the way) and allowing workers to strike for higher wages(do they have unions in China) are very different things.

China will have to revaluate renminbi anyway knowing that habitual foreign exchange intervention brings about excessive fluidity in the country. But China will do it shrewdly with Japan as an example of how not to behave (see how Japan's lost decade followed the Plaza accord). Though I don't know why China now buys Greek's and Spain's government bonds that nobody buys and speculators sell off, as if by way of retaliation for the Nobel peace prize awarded to its citizen, China may take a similar approach on democracy and human rights issues too. Japan should just urge and wait without taking sides with a containment policy that only fans confrontation.

China will do whatever it can get away with...

There will be peace as long as no one has anything China wants to take...

China will make Japanese racism look mild...