tian4670 comments

the exercize of soverignty which includes admnistration of the territory (incorporation, construction, issuance of title, lease, business licenenses, property tax, etc.) all of which was done peacefully by Japan for 75 years before China's assertion of the claim.

I am not sure your definition of 'peacefully'. To Chinese, war with Japan only ended after WWII.

don't forget, the harder you defend these islands, the harder you will get northern islands back.

Peace is the best guarantee of security.

Agree. But have a look at this:

http://www.japantoday.com/category/politics/view/noda-says-sdf-may-guard-senkakus-against-intrusions-by-chinese-vessels

It will induce counter action from PRC if implemented.

Japan can enjoy 'peace' in his air conditioned room because it has protection of mighty USA. Something PRC cannot rely on, instead it is under constant threat from USA (from its own view, surrounded/contained by USA and allies).

National security is not an argument for legitimacy of sovereignty over the islands, but an important factor whether one party can give ground.

I (somewhat arrogantly) believe you guys miss the most important point. These islands represent natural resources for Japanese. They represent national security or safety for PRC.

US has been touting Chinese containment. PRC is already surrounded by US bases. How long does it take a F22 to fly over Beijing or Shanghai from Japan? It will be a major disaster if PRC gives up those disputed islands and let US build another base there. In that case, not a single part of PRC is not under threat of US bombers. CCP has paint itself as human kind, and only capable leader for Chinese, to prosperity, to resist aggression from Japan and US...If those islands are lost under its ruling, its legitimacy is in the water. A bloody revolution may follow.

Suppose you were a leader of PRC, how are you going to lose those islands and then your life?

For decades, PRC want to put this issue under carpet because internal problems and presence of US. The government had been telling its people to leave the problem in "government's hand". It only aimed to maintain 'relatively equally' presence on the island, ie, neither side get on the island. When Japan enforces its 'effective control' around that area, the problem can't be hidden anymore. I am not convinced if arresting of ship caption and visiting by Japanese MP are wise. PRC used to protest through Foreign Department. Now it has to escalate the confrontation to keep 'equal'.

A war/armed conflict will break out if Japan stations army on the island. If it does, Taiwan is 100% sure to be loser, as it has to choose between China and USA, and it is on the wrong side with Japan. USA has to give up Taiwan if it wanna to help Japan. China is sure winner, as it can take those stupid islands or Taiwan or both at the same time. Depending on the strength of alliance with US, it maybe a winner or a loser. US is sure to be a winner as it stands to gain something, without risk of losing any.

Your example makes no sense since Japan never took the Senkakus from anybody and certaibnly not by force. That's whyy they were allowed to keep them agter WWII ended.

Other records state (of course from China) that those islands were lost to Japan after war with Japan around 1890s.

My own position:

China has no claim on disputed islands with Vietnam and Phillipine. Japan has no claim on these islands Russia has no claim on those islands disputed with Japan.

I am not pro-China or pro-Japan, neither against.

Sorry but Japan is the most mature stating from the start that THERE ARE NO TERRITORIAL DISPUTE OVER THE ISLANDS. End of story.

You broke in your neighbor's house, stabbed his back, took his Rolls Royce, show off to all your close friend.

Your neighbor spent 40 yrs in life support in a local hospital, unable to make counter claim.

You are the legal owner of that luxury car?

Japan against Russia against Korea against China against Philippine against Vietnam.....

Someone can setup a round table for all those big kids to talk these disputes out, on common ground?

The Sino-Japanes war which resulted in the Treaty of Shimoneski where Chinese territories such as Taiwan were giveh to Japan did not include the Senkakus. Why? Because they were already Japanese and china didn't consider it theirs. The islands were assigned to a Manchurian nobleman (king of something stupid). After losing war, Qing government was too busy with internal affairs to make claims of anything, and too weak to do so. Not making a claim during that moment will not change sovereignty. If you do not agree, ask big brother Sam this question:"Shall Israel exist after 1000+ years been destroyed?"

Sorry but all of South and East China Seas are not part of China. Honestly, those islands are shared by all fisherman from all surrounding countries. They should be shared resource.

Frankly, I agree (many Japanese friends implicitly agree when talking about Diaoyu/Senkaku islands) with Russian PM on this: No land changes hand without a war....

In another word: winner takes all.

Yeah, right, let's begin this meaning internal talk of 'Diaoyu Island sovereignty' by beginning with 'Senkaku is always Japanese...'

Chinese long held position is 'put difference aside, focus on economic development'.

Japanese decline talks as 'there are no issues related to the islands, they are Japanese'

Who is more arrogant? Who refuses diplomatic solution?

For Japan, the islands means more land and fish and resources. For China, it's deadly if those islands are truly lost. Opening up any map, you can see how close they are to Beijing and Shanghai. If islands are conceded to Japan, China then cannot object an (potential) US base... So, if a dreadful war is broken out, Japan (likely backed by US) is going to fight for more resources, China is going to fight for its survival as a strong nation. Who is going to having stronger will? You guess?

“As for our Japanese partners’ reaction—I do not care,” Medvedev said in comments carried by the government’s official website.

“I care so little about it that I do not even want to spend time answering your question,” Medvedev was quoted as saying to reporters during the closing stages of his trip to Russia’s Far East.

“Why? Because why would we discuss the presence of the head of the Russian government on Russian territory,” Medvedev demanded.

At last, I found something common between Japanese and Russian...Cheers...

Hikozaemon: The islands have been held, and occupied continuously since the 19th century without a peep of complaint from PRC. The ONLY reason they reopened their claim was the discovery of natural gas there in the mid 1970s.

Complaint to who? Before WWII ends, to Japanese who is busy massacring Chinese? Before 70s, PRC was isolated by the whole world, Taiwan was on life support, who can make the complaint? Before 80s or even 90s, neither PRC or Taiwan has any meaningful navy, what is the point of complaining?

Hypothetically, you stole a Rolls Royce from your neighbor who is so ill that he stayed in hospital life support for 2 years. You show off the car to everyone and claim ownership in the meantime. Will you seriously believe that you are the rightful owner of the prestige car after two years' running?

Not at all. Russia took those islands under violation of ceasefire AFTER WWII, while the islands here have been in Japanese possession since the first Sino-Japanese war more than a century ago.

So, Russian will be rightful owner of those kuril islands after 50 years of administrating them?

“I care so little about it that I do not even want to spend time answering your question,” Medvedev was quoted as saying to reporters during the closing stages of his trip to Russia’s Far East.

Japanese government is taking the role of Russian gov this time...

I am a little bit sympathy of Japanese on this issue. However, Japanese are as arrogant, if not more when it comes to Daoyu Islands. At the end of day, why should other people care about your feeling, if you don't care about other people's?

While Japanese politicians are fishing at Chinese islands....

While Japanese politicians are finishing at Chinese islands....

Er, I thought Japan would not deal with any countries declared by Uncle Sam as evil. In fact, at least when black gold is concerned, flexibility must be maintained....Moral high ground? Forget about it....Sleep with enemy? Who cares....

For those fighting morons, let's have some history lessons here:

The world began some 13 billion years ago, after god made the huge BANG. Grand grand grand...fathers of Chinese lived in caves till some 3,000 ago, by that time, grand grand grand...fathers of Japanese lived on tree top. Neither sides seem to be able to go to this no man islands on regular basis and still come back alive till 3000 ago. Chinese seems to begin civilization a bit earlier, I assume they become regular visitor first. However, Chinese army failed to protect its own border since some 600 years ago, let alone keeping the islands for its own benefit. Because of its convenience location to both side, I think Chinese come one day, Japanese come the other, some time they come together. Sometimes they get drunk together, sometimes they fought each other out for women. International laws arrive less than 100 years ago. It fails to recognize shared resources. It is not able to judge any thing outside its boundary. And there is simply NOT a respect judge on that.

So, the only reasonable thing to do is:

Relax Have a cup of coffee Have some very long, serious talk. Have some wonderful diner, perhaps some sushi.

YuriOtaniJun

Did you pickup your gun to take back northern islands when Russia president and PM declared that 'No territory change without a war in history? Or you are just a big talker? If you love war so much and hate dark evil so much, why not go to Iraq or Afgan to show your value?

By the way, Australia is stronger than you thought. It does not rely on Japan for its own existence.

According to newspaper and website, Chinese government calls for diplomatic solution, Japanese politicians goes on a fishing trip to show 'ownership' of some islands. Better still, some stupid people talk about war.

It is a conflict of interest, not silly ideology difference, not good against evil, not black and white, not..., only interest.

Vladmir Putin left bitter taste in many Japanese mouth, by visiting so called 'Northern Islands" and declared that no territory changed hand ever in history without a war. Some Japanese are going down the same road against China.

Claims to Northern Islands are logically in direct conflict to claims to these islands.

Sounds familiar, this is also called currency manipulation - according to big brother.

Tragically, Japanese arguments for northern islands undermine its arguments for south-western islands (Senkaku/Diaoyu, whatever you like to call it), and its arguments for south-western islands undermine its arguments for northern islands. At least to readers outside Japan.

BTW, some people love to price my comments at 50 cents, but in reality, my opinions worth only 10 cents each. Thanks, for their generosity.

OssanAmerica ： I am very sorry to tell you that the agreement had been signed ~10 years (early 1940s) before US objection in 1951.

OssanAmerica: Those islands are rewards for Russian to start wars against Japan, promised my US. Russian fulfilled its part, so they keep those islands.

Not everybody on earth want to call US their big brother. Particularly those with spine.

Then you must feel very comfortable when Russian prime minister spent a holiday on 'Northern' islands, now belongs to Russia.

@smithinjapan

Clearly it has hurt Japan, who has announced it will let the captain go without any charges, etc. Not only have they lost face, but they have proven to be weak in the face of a much stronger nation, and capitulating, which I have stated I thought was inevitable, sends a message to even weaker nations that have staked claims around the islands that China can only be dealt with on China's terms.

I can NOT agree with you on this. Only a strong nation can afford to take a step back during a conflict to create an environment for a workable solution. I do NOT see weaker Japan after this. I only feel a bit of relieve that commonsense has come back.