politics

Japan, China need 'rules of game' to avoid clash: Abe adviser

19 Comments
By Linda Sieg

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People still talking about China being a bullie, China was attacked by next to everyone in the past 100 years.

How 'bout the previous 1000 years?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Its funny how ishihara claimed that the purchase of the islands before was a step towards resolving this island dispute. Normal people settles the dispute before making a big purchase, which sorta suggest japan never thought there was a dispute in the first place or that it was settled. In light of this, how in the world is THAT not provacation in the eyes of the chinese.

I don't think this will escalate into full out war here, its all about the money, china is probably vying for a share in the development of the resources there as it would be quite difficult (impossible) to claim full ownership, but even that scenario would mean china would have to pay japan for a share (since they bought it from the merchant).

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Yet China never talks about "meeting halfway" in the South China Sea................ Why is that...........?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

fivegogo: "There's no map to China's behavior."

Your comment is a typical display of why the current tensions exist -- you think it's all one-sided and Japan is in no way in the wrong.

Sorry, but when you have both saying, "It's my way or the highway", you're not going to get very far on 'rules', especially when Japan has to hide behind the US and other nations to even say it. To China's credit, they have talked about meeting halfway, which Japan quickly dashed by saying they would not budge.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Here's the fundamental problem with the policies and actions by Japan: its cold war mentality and miscalculation of its own projection of power.

When Japan is talking about "encircling" China, that's a face in palm, punch me in the face kind of fail. What does Japan has that can encircle China? All these trips to Vietnam, Philippines, Mynamar..etc. are completely meaningless. The Vietnamese is a communist state. They have beef with China but at the end of the day, they are brothers. Myanmar's entire military is built by the Chinese. Its entire economy along with Vietnam are supported by China. Heck, a large population of their own people are ethnic Han Chinese. If China without its investment and assistance to both of these nations, they will drop dead and crash immediately. What encirclement is Japan talking about?

Second, in order to encircle China, you can't do it from one side. China owns the South China Sea. Not one single nation can stand up to them including the US. That's why they have been able to do what they wanted for all these time. The Philippines tried to stand up to China. I applaud them but look at what happened, that disputed island is now under Chinese control. The Philippines also lost 38% of its nautical boundaries to China because that disputed island was crucial to Luzon's western boundaries and economic zone control. All that gone. And the Philippines economy took a nose dive in the 3rd and 4th quarter due to the Chinese pulling out. They are still reeling from all kinds of hurt and trying to find ways to reconnect with China.

All 3 countries that Abe went, just look at the local news and response from these respective countries, nothing about support for Japan's stance of these disputed islands. NO mention of South China Sea disputes. Nothing but what Japan should do to expand investment on these countries respectively. Meaning, they only care about your money and not your troubles. And most certainly they don't want to be used by Japan to upset the Chinese.

And remember China has Russia, North Korea, Pakistan, the entire SE Asia Peninsula (other than Singapore) , Bangladesh, Indonesia, and possibly even South Korea since they hate Japan. Not exactly an encirclement against China is it?

Third, the only rational reality is Japan has very limited friends in Asia. And these socalled friends are more like economic partners instead of strategic alliances. So in reality, other US military establishments and possibly Singapore, Japan has no friends in Asia. Japan used to have a solid friend called Taiwan. But not anymore since Taiwan also claim ownership to these islands. The only friend it has is the US, 5000 miles away. And its highly doubtful that even US would go to war against China for Japan since the national interest US has over China is greater than Japan these days.

The future is bleak at best.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

There's no map to China's behavior.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

As the Pentagon well knows, a war unfolding in the Asia-Pacific region would most likely be fought at sea and in the air, which may not require the US to act since Japan is highly capable in these two areas -- in fact, far more advanced than China which will take another generation to catch up to Japanese capabilities.

While Japan may want to deal with Chinese aggression on its own, even if only to demonstrate its dominance in such an arena, the US is committed and determined to act with overwhelming force in the protection of the islands of Japan against any invasion.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

natural resources? I believe that is not the real issue. Right now China is an a transition government with Tibet doing self immolation everyday to create international pressure with their plight.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

the island is the gateway of China to the Pacific and the best way to encircle Taiwan and cut off the island from US support. By taking over these rocks, US submarines will not be able to protect taiwan and thus making it indefensible to invasion.

China wants to expand to the pacific and the only thing that stands in between is the unsinkable fleet (Senkaku).

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

right to administer and ownership is very different...

the only solution is joint partnership in extracting the resources...i can categorically say that in no way will china just leave it alone at this point in time

2 ( +2 / -0 )

So until there is a decision on the actual sovereignty issue this will just continue to escalate

Didn't escalate over the last 100 years or so. Why does it need to escalate now?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

People still talking about China being a bullie, China was attacked by next to everyone in the past 100 years. So its just natural for them to start defending themsleves.

The rules of engagement should be "stop wasting fuel by sending planes and ships to petrol a few rocks", that goes for both sides.

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

It will be interesting to know what message Abe has asked Yamaguchi to deliver to China. At least some reproach action is going on here.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Tamarama,

The problem is no-one actually recognises Japan's sovereignty over these islands, not even their good allie the US. they recognise Japan's right to administer them and that's it. So until there is a decision on the actual sovereignty issue this will just continue to escalate

5 ( +8 / -3 )

It strikes me that there are already pretty clear international rules about sovereignty and encroaching on somebody else's territory.

And whether China likes it or not, the islands are universally recognised as being under Japanese control. Cut and dry.

-4 ( +4 / -8 )

Whose fault was this? Mr. Ishihara. If anyone does over it it will be his fault, too.

1 ( +6 / -5 )

"Yachi said some on the Chinese side were thinking in a “realistic and rational” way, so there was hope the two countries could engage. At the same time, a lack of transparency had left Tokyo guessing just what Beijing intends."

One problem here is the struggle for power between the Chinese government and nationalistic military officers who are capable of going rogue.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

“During the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union had such ‘rules of the game’ to avoid a possible conflict. We can learn a lesson from their experience,”

Very pro-active statement indictaing Japan's foreign policy 'maturity' . . . . . .However, I doubt China- who has bullied it's wayin most FP issues up til now - will "get it".

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

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