Ryokai comments

The Russians have their Black Sea fleet based there on a lease agreement with the Ukraine so Russia is worried about a pro-Western, pro- EU Ukraine government taking hold of that strategic area. The US and NATO would have strong influence in the Black Sea region if the Ukraine joined EU and NATO. We have to realise though that the Ukraine is dirt-poor with the national income only $3,800 and the Ukrainians would welcome any move that would better their economic lot.

I'm sure the NK regime is already paranoid about losing power, the certain individuals would become accountable for crimes like the Nazis in the Nuremburg war trials after WW2. There would be a lot of aggreived victims wanting to play catch-up.

The Kamikaze attacks were not aimed at the Chinese so what is the PRC is upset about? These 'kamikaze' letters were written by the young, inexperienced pilots in the Japanese tokkoutai "Special Attack Group" and are mostly about ' I don't want to die/ what's the point?' As such the letters are more critical of war in general and the desperate and futile policies of the Japanese army and air force in 1944/45. So they are legitimate anti-war documents and not instruments of any resurgent Japanese imperialism.

Kerry made this statement after Putin rebuffed China's request for mutual support on any island claims with Japan. This effectively isolates China politically on its Senkaku claim and reassures the US that Russia will not take a pro-China stance if a Senkaku fight does break out. This represents the victory of common sense and diplomacy over China's medieval demands.

Abe is being resonable. China PRC is being unreasonable. PRC rantings are starting to sound like Hitler's prior to his invasion of Poland in 1939. Like Hitler, PRC is potentially facing large powerful enemies but PRC is counting on some western 'appeasement' ethic to gain concessions without a fight.

Abe is correct in thinking the current state of affairs is like pre-WW1 but he is fairly tactless in coming out and saying it. Regarding WW1, when the Archduke was killed in Sarajevo in 1913 all nations were aligned with some other country and therefore had to choose sides. There was also a lot of 'jingoism' and military buildup in Europe at that time. Today, If there was a shooting war with PRC, USA would support Japan and then Australia, New Zealand would support the USA because of the Anzus treaty. Then all ASEAN nations and probably NATO as well would throw in their support for the USA. The PRC would be essentially isolated. Russia would be a question mark, but as Russia doesn't like the PRC and don't want to risk a confrontation with pro-USA forces they would likely remain neutral and opportunistic.

The Chinese 'diplomats' should really learn how to shut up. Obviously their infantile posturing over the Senakaku Islands 'problem' (read China's problem) has failed. Japan has the full support of the US and neighbouring Asian countries are mostly on-side or anti-China. So all China-PRC can resort to is sniping from the sidelines that achieves little and gives PRC even more of an image and PR problem.

The US needs to send in some US fishing vessels 'without permission' into the SCS to lead the way like the USAF did with the PRC's ECS ADIZ. Assuming the PRC would not have the balls to arrest US fishing boats, testing the waters should give the all-clear to fishing boats of all countries to resume business as usual.

Just wait till volcanic activity starts spitting up islands in contested areas - the Chinese will try and claim them. How do you determine ownership of 'new' islands anyway?

The next logical move is for Japan to build defence facilities on the Senkaku islands. China keeps pushing which doesn't leave Japan with a choice. If China stops pushing then Japan won't need to build these facilities.

His lawyer could negotiate his sentence down from 2 years to six months.