U.S. Pacific forces chief concerned over Japan-China tension

Really? Concerned? Well it would be better for all concerned if Abe stepped down from office, permanently

China needs to change its mindset on being the center kingdom of the world. China has sacrificed 10's of millions of Chinese lives just in the early 60's for this same domination dream they have always held! Today China with its new found power is at it again! It is no secrete so why don't all gather and put an end to China's domination ambitions once and for all, or isolate them again. We lived without China, well, in the past and could again! Just put an end to large corporate greed that shoves money into the pockets of politicians, that are after that 1.3 billion customer cesspool of Chinese consumers that every corporation has been drooling over and our leaders have been selling out their soles to these corporations so to give them the ability and access to set up shop there as they drain their home countries of jobs and an economy! I mean it is not some undiscovered science we are talking about, the world economy in shambles for years now and China growing at double digit figures year upon year, until the earnings of the wealthy countries began to dry up and the credit, which eventually had to happen.

"In many cases, those are young naval officers or young civilian mariners who are out there" making decisions, Locklear said.

The Chinese certainly have a history of acting recklessly. Just look at what one Chinese pilot by the name of Wang Wei did back in 2001. Playing a game of chicken with an EP-3, what could go wrong? And then just recently you had that Chinese frigate lock its radar on a Japanese destroyer.

The Dec. 5 incident involving USS Cowpens and a Chinese naval ship was "unnecessary," Locklear said, attributing it to "unprofessional" Chinese conduct or a "lack of experience."

Unnecessary, unprofessional and lacking in experience. That pretty much sums up China.

Didnt the Russians sent frigate to ram US crusiers in Black sea during the late 1980s? Did that triggared an all out war back then between Regan & Gorbachev? Perhaps the Russian actions has applaud China when you met a foreign hostility in peace decade!

To me this is like a cold war. The problem is china is growing stronger and threatening Japan. Honestly speaking Japan doesnt respect China too. Japanese foreign policy in East Asia is shit. You dont have any friends except USA.Japan just has to accept it their golden days are over, the wind changes. Lastly, Japan is surrounded by enemies Russia, North Korea and China. South Korea definitely wont help Japan during war in.fact seoul relationship is closer with beijing than tokyo. So do you think Japan can win the war in Asia Pacific. I doubt.

Mutual ignorance is the historic enemy of mutual understanding.

It's highly unlikely that neither China or Japan will initiate the attack... China has its hand full with its large population which have the potential to turn into dissidents. The crackdown in Xinjiang, and border dispute with India. Japan on the other hand does not have the power projection it needs to launch an invasion (not to mention, their limited resources and the pacifist constitution).

An all out conflict is unlikely, but isolated incidents similar to what happened in the Pakistan Indian border or the Korean DMZ may occur. But... in the event of an all out war, it will be a war of attrition for both Japan and China.

Russia is still technically at war with Japan... That's why the majority of Japanese resources are focused in the north until recently which is shifted to the south.

One thing for sure, an open war will inevitably drag U.S. whether because of the treaty or the multi billions military industrial complex. +_+

Despite the fact most who read JT support Japan, let's not start 'China-bashing' and recognize that responsibility for the current poor relations between Japan, China and South Korea should be mutual. China needs to be less aggressive and reactionary, and Japan needs to demonstrate a greater sense of remorse regarding it's actions during the war, and please, no more "Japan already apologized a lot!" - we are not concerned about past governments sentiment, the issue is with the current administration and their dangerously revisionist attitude.

The Chinese certainly have a history of acting recklessly. Just look at what one Chinese pilot by the name of Wang Wei did back in 2001.

One Chinese pilot does not represent 1 billion Chinese people.

The incident you refer to, The Hainan Island Incident, is more a testament to American provocation. The U.S. military continues to fly military spy flights off of Hainan Island, just as that particular flight was just 110 km away from Hainan. Does China fly spy flights 110 km away from Honolulu? Guam? No it does not.

Also the U.S. repeatedly puts warships to within 121 km of Hainan Island.

While this is outside Chinese territorial waters, it is within China's EEZ. And while all countries can technically pass vessels through this space, it does not mean they should push it to see how much annoyance they can cause. The situation has been a significant factor that has led to China pushing to see what they can get away with, a totally predictable outcome.

But can you say to people who yearn for war?

Abe is just taking this matter and trying to make it seem bigger than it actually is. listen to his speeches, most are hyperboles type speeches. So, If you look for shit, you're gonna smell it. Throw this guy out of office.

Despite the fact most who read JT support Japan, let's not start 'China-bashing' and recognize that responsibility for the current poor relations between Japan, China and South Korea should be mutual. China needs to be less aggressive and reactionary, and Japan needs to demonstrate a greater sense of remorse regarding it's actions during the war

It's true. I personally hold Japan to a higher standard though. It's like when two kids are fighting, and one has 3-4 years on the other. You expect the little one to be foolish, and you expect the older kid to be more mature. Let's face it, expecting China to act like a team player in the world is only going to lead to frustration. They need to be controlled through economic pressure, that's the only language that will speak to them. Japan on the other hand has 70 years experience in dealing with the world as a mature nation, and as a peaceful nation, so you would hope/expect them to do that when dealing with the childish behavior of the Chinese.

Unfortunately Abe and crew don't seem to be able to do that, which is why I am critical of them myself.

They need to be controlled through economic pressure

Where Japan is concerned, absolutely

Abe is just taking this matter and trying to make it seem bigger than it actually is.

Politics is not all about tolerating whatever shit other countries are giving to you. Sometimes, it's way better to just blurt it out, for the sake of mutual benefit: "we may have a business relation, but we don't like what you're doing to us". Abe might be exaggerating the seriousness of the situation here and there, but it will help a significant portion of Chinese people to understand the very surprising truth that even we Japanese cannot tolerate their stupidity.

Japan on the other hand has 70 years experience in dealing with the world as a mature nation, and as a peaceful nation, so you would hope/expect them to do that when dealing with the childish behavior of the Chinese.

Japan's presence on the international stage has been relatively limited since the end of WWII, certainly smaller than their economic clout would suggest. In this sense it's not just China that's emerging, the Japanese also want to play a bigger role in the world affairs. And so we have two powers butting heads.

Deriding the whole issue as childish (as everyone seems to do) reeks of white mans burden to me.

Neither China nor Japan could ever be that stupid to start a war... however, Indonesian warships are heading to Australia for a possible confrontation.

Hey Strangerland,

Please stop the ''it's like two kids fighting'' analogies !! Kids don't fight over islands with nuclear weapons !

And by the way, as we keep getting reminded every bloody day now, China is over 5000 years old ..... - they know what they're doing ! They just don't play by our rules....

They are acting like children, so it's an apt analogy.

America has always bowed to China's expansionistic policy for most goods that sell in America's well known department stores testifies to the reason why they bow to them.

China is carrying out two things which makes them the biggest threat to peace in the region today. First, they are on a military and territorial expansion program and waging this battle in every way possible, from invoking ADIZ's that cover other countries' territories in the East China Sea to implemnting "fishing regulations" arbitrarily in the South China Sea. These actions increase the chance of conflict both intentional and unintentional. Second,. China refuses to open communications with the United States and Japan on a military level so that such potential conflicts can be avoided. Thereby further increasing the risk of conflict. And as for the probability of an unintentional conflict occuring, it is China and only China that has openly instructed it's PLA to "prepare fror war" and has filled it's population with hate and nationalism. This makes China the highest risk in terms of an "accidental" conflict as well. Comments refering nto Abe should be deleted as this article makes ZERO mention of him. Supporters of hre Chinese dictatorship use thes JT forums just to post anti-Japan, anti-Abe comments when they are irrelevant to the artile and discussion. Of course they are doing this on all news related internet forums.

The commander of U.S. forces in the Pacific said Thursday the tensions between China and Japan are likely to grow unless they talk to each other.

He's quite right, of course.

Except that Abe can't even talk to his own people.

There is no problem here that couldn't be solved by communication.

If only Abe could do that!

LOL... Abe just today, asked China to meet and talk peace. This, right after he condemned China and asked the world to "stand up to China". China's response for Abe's request? "China's leaders are very busy men, they have lot of important things to take care of, and have no time to waste with meetings that go nowhere."

I swear to god there is something wrong with this man's head. If you want to talk peace with them, then fine. But you must first stop with provoking them. You cannot keep on insulting them, slap them across their face, then expect them to sit down with you as if nothing happened.

US is concerned about the raising China, that's it. I am too, but the same with an over powerful US! I hate super power countries. And all that mainly just for oil or other less strategical resources. What a pity!

BertieWoosterJan. 25, 2014 - 12:33AM JST "The commander of U.S. forces in the Pacific said Thursday the tensions between China and Japan are likely to grow unless they talk to each other."

He's quite right, of course. Except that Abe can't even talk to his own people. There is no problem here that couldn't be solved by communication. If only Abe could do that!

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-12-06/abe-calls-for-china-talks-invoking-2006-visit-as-tensions-rise.html http://www.ndtv.com/article/world/china-leaders-refuse-to-meet-japan-pm-after-latter-s-controversial-war-shrine-visit-464945

Unless they talk to each other?

What is this, kindergarten?

It's Chinese government the one that's always harassing and insulting and provoking, not Japan.

Someone needs to take the toys away and tell them to go home to their mommies

As long as China keeps trying to push the neighbors around there is the potential for conflict - accidental or not. China is trying to change the status quo by use of force - soft force at the moment, but backed up with their military. As was learned in Europe in the last century the neighbors aren't going to get peace by caving in. China has to be shown, firmly, that they aren't going to be allowed to get away with anything. The only other path is continuing escalation until a mistake is made.

I don't think working with China is as challenging as working with Mr. Abe so far.... China wants adequate respect to their sovereignty and wants Japan to return the Island that was taken after the first Sino-Japan War. More Japan resist to push their own agenda first on their turf, China is going to resist with everything she has. The key is returning the island and not re-visiting the past as Abe have done so boldly. If the table were turned Japan would be in a similar predicament as China, as long as Japan refuse to return the Island talk is only a talk.

Missing out from the above article is according to Reuters, Locklear did say that Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and General Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, did have capabilities to reach out in a crisis. He also said that China believed it issued notification to maritime traffic to steer clear of the Liaoning but the Cowpens, which was monitoring the carrier, had no such notice. This shows that it’s very hard to believe the US in this case. Also, according the Wall Street Journal yesterday: WASHINGTON—U.S. officials say they are seeking assurances from Japan that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe won't repeat a visit to a war shrine that angered China and South Korea and will ask Mr. Abe to consider reaffirming Tokyo's previous formal apologies over World War II in a bid to ease tensions in East Asia. This would be quite a loss of face for Japan.

It's to US' strategic interest that there should be a suitable amount of tension and mistrust between China and Japan, such amount small enough that they won't start shooting at each other and drag the American's in, and large enough so that Japan remains dependent on the US and so willing to act as an American military extension to check China's rise, while the Americans take its time to work out a long term engagement doctrine with China.

A rapid and possibly uncontrolled rise of tension does not fit this plan.

So how can the Americans bring the situation back to the preferred status? Dealing with China is a matter of bargains and deals. That takes time. Korea is American ally, but mostly in the context of North Korea. The Korean economy and technology have developed so fast in recent decades that the Koreans increasingly feel confident about themselves. So American pressure no longer work well.

That leaves Japan. A country the US thinks it can still calls the shots for. But Abe is proving them otherwise. His antagonist actions and rhetorics make his calls for diplomacy ring hollow.

The Americans are now frustrated. All these calls for "improving relations" are veiled criticisms of Abe.

The commander of U.S. forces in the Pacific said Thursday the tensions between China and Japan are likely to grow unless they talk to each other.

This is exactly what Prime Minister Abe was talking about when he referred to what he saw as World War I echoes in Japan-China tensions.

Prime minister Abe is calling for talks while Communist China and it's tributary states are closing out any. If Communist China and it's tributary states were truly serious about keeping the peace in Asia they would have a sit down with Japan.

But, peace is not their goal, their goal is conquest and extortion and that will never fly.

The Dec. 5 incident involving USS Cowpens and a Chinese naval ship was “unnecessary,” Locklear said, attributing it to “unprofessional” Chinese conduct or a “lack of experience.”

Very polite and I see that the PLA's water internet army here is trying to place blame with Abe. But, we all know they don't have a leg to stand on.

So how can the Americans bring the situation back to the preferred status? Dealing with China is a matter of bargains and deals. That takes time. Korea is American ally, but mostly in the context of North Korea. The Korean economy and technology have developed so fast in recent decades that the Koreans increasingly feel confident about themselves. So American pressure no longer work well.

Korea has produced no "groundbreaking" technology to speak of, and has enjoyed success by copying either Japanese or US technology and then undercutting them in the production costs. Make no mistake that South Korea has only enjoyed this success due to unfettered access to US and NATO member country markets as payback to hosting US troops, and to provide stabilization on the peninsula. It is also useful to keep S. Korea engaged as it provides yet another check against Chinese expansion, and to keep their hatred of Japan contained. Since S. Korea has been cozying up to China again recently, they have aroused a lot of suspicion from the US and there are serious doubts about where their loyalties lie...with either the US or with China.

Also make no mistake that South Korea holds no significant portion of US debt, and the open access to US markets can be reversed in a heartbeat if the US feels that it's no longer in its interests if SK gets too close again with China.

The Korean economy and technology have little to do with their success. Access to US and Western European markets do. Korea isn't in a stellar position financially, on both government or consumer levels. What little success they have they can thank the US for opening markets to them, and the Japanese for providing technology and money to jump-start their economy. They have very little to crow about.

As was learned in Europe in the last century the neighbors aren't going to get peace by caving in. China has to be shown, firmly, that they aren't going to be allowed to get away with anything.

For starters, the Chinese are not Europeans. They don't think the same. Second, you are talking about the Nazis, who yearned for war and planned for it and did not need the Sudetenland or any concessions to launch it. At best they were just buying some time. But when most people ask for concessions its not as a trick or prelude to war, but because they actually want and probably deserve concessions. Subterfuge is the exception, NOT the rule. It would be a fool's errand to treat all rivals as if they were Adolf Hitler, and treat the Senkakus as the Sudetenland. The Sudeten Crisis was completely different.

China actually does have some decent island claims as well as some garbage and hypocritical ones. So does Japan.

Japan took the Senkakus from China during the first Sino-Japanese War. China has a historical claim. Japan's claim of terra nullius was nothing more than a scheme to thwart China's claim, and it was dreamed up and abandoned 10 years prior to the war, abandoned because it was such obvious bull.

The Dec. 5 incident involving USS Cowpens and a Chinese naval ship was “unnecessary,”

No that was totally necessary! The Soviets ram their frigate at US crusier back in 1988/89 in Black Sea to expel US naval intimidation. Now China has done without a scratch so they were very 'Professional' at expelling unwelcome guest!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDN8lQW08yQ

By all the hooping and hollering done by Communist China you know Prime Minister Abe is correct. He has proven his point and it's a darned good point.

I love the attempts by the Communist and anti-Democracy folks here to whitewash Communist China's aggressions against their neighbors. Too bad for them all they have is propaganda while everyone else has proof.

funny carJan. 25, 2014 - 09:34AM JST For starters, the Chinese are not Europeans. They don't think the same. Second, you are talking about the Nazis, who yearned for war and planned for it and did not need the Sudetenland or any concessions to launch it

No Chinese aren't Europeans, but Communist China is a Nationalistic state with ambitions of reclaiming lands and tributary territories that they believe is theirs. This was the same thing Nazis Germany was thinking when they began taking territories that it had lost after WWI. Big difference is Germany waited 12 years to start they reconquest while Communist China has taken over 100 years.

Communist China's PLA budget has gone from $20 Billion in 2000 to $166 Billion as of today, so yes China has been beefing up for war exactly as Nazis Germany did.

stalingrad2014Jan. 25, 2014 - 11:31AM JST No that was totally necessary! The Soviets ram their frigate at US crusier back in 1988/89 in Black Sea to expel US naval intimidation. Now China has done without a scratch so they were very 'Professional' at expelling unwelcome guest!

So in your world Communist China has successfully expelled US forces from the South China sea? Interesting and all this time I was believing all reports that the U.S. is still here.

Now, as to your assertion that the Black Sea incident and the December 5th incident were exactly the same. The Black Sea incident happened in Soviet waters while the Dec 5th incident happened in international waters. So, they were extremely different.

BTW, whatever happened to the great Soviet Union, are they still around?

To reduce tensions in Sought China sea Japan and China may consider putting the disputes into sleep for 50 years by signing bilateral documents that would forbid anybody making any claims to this island for that period of time providing Japan would hold its current "in-dispute status" over the Islands.

25psotJan. 25, 2014 - 12:37PM JST To reduce tensions in Sought China sea Japan and China may consider putting the disputes into sleep for 50 years by signing bilateral documents that would forbid anybody making any claims to this island for that period of time providing Japan would hold its current "in-dispute status" over the Islands

Japan isn't making any claims, Japan doesn't have a dispute as to whose territory those islands, they are Japanese territory.

The only one who has a dispute is Communist China. So maybe Communist China needs to stop claiming them for 50 years and there won't be anymore problems.