China-Japan island disputes

Obviously.

Ownership of the islands gives exploration rights in sorrounding areas as well allowing for the basing of troops..

That is interesting. Malcolm Moore reports they aren't believed to be oil rich, but your link looks a little more accurate. Here's Moore's take: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/journalists/malcolm-moore/9552939/The-Japan-China-island-dispute-explained-Packed-lunches-protests-and-politics.html

http://www.eia.gov/countries/regions-topics.cfm?fips=ECS

May be an interesting read..

I don't think it has any significant amount (of you've got a source, let me know). If these islands were full of oil, this conflict would have happened years ago. The conflict is more dick wagging than anything.

China and Japan both know there's oil in the islands but are not sure of the quantity or the economics of its extraction.

Which country will not claim its stake on a land which has potential resources?

Rest everything is a farce.

Yep, next few decades are going to be intense!

Absolutely. And to that list I'd add the Spanish and the Ottomans at the height of their power. Almost every nation is a bully at heart, the only difference is that some countries amass enough power to put it into practice. Its the inherent problem of nationalism.

My mistake. Perhaps great was not the right word. However, look back in history. Britain, France (to some extent), USSR and USA have all been accused of bullying at one time or another.

Perhaps China is the next one...

I'm with you on that, Bachus.

China wants so desperately to be respected as an intellectual resource, but there just isn't anything China can teach the world.

Particularly the ones with 'Great' in their names. ;)

Yep. But I have a hard time classifying modern China as a great nation. Maybe one day in the future, but I think it will implode before that happens.

All great nations sometimes become bullies to further their own ends :O)

^Go to China and try selling that Mao story to them. ;) You'd be lucky to leave with your head attached. (Referring to Bachus's post.)

China has serious identity issues. Identity issues are red flags as they seem to precede all historical instances of aggression backed by blind nationalism. But China's unique identity issues are compounded by the fact that the government needs its people to be in a state of pro-China zeal for it to remain intact as a nation. The CCP realizes that the moment people start questioning 'Am I Chinese? What does it mean to be Chinese? Wtf is my government doing? Could I/we be something more progressive on our own?' the domino effect has started and the map of China will be changed forever.

Anyway, I think the distractions the CCP needs to use on its own people to divert their attention from internal government issues are only going to grow in scale. The next major distraction will likely be real aggression (not just egg throwing and protests but real military action) and following this ... war? China will lose this war but not without causing major destruction in the Asian world. That is when the real China(s) of the future will be born. Old ghosts will be replaced by new ones.

You're right, Bachus, China is being a bully. It has to be a bully even if this means shooting itself in the foot by killing relations and trade with Japan. China's government is going to crumble at some point. The question is what will cause this and when will it occur.

I must admit that the whole apologising thing is more to do with being PC , then any actual intent.

At present it is just posyuring on both sides. Will be interesting to see if China actually ups the ante. I doubt it will.

I think the Japanese should apologize as soon as the Chinese apologize to the Tibetans, the Mongolians apologize to the Russians, the Turks to the Serbs, and pretty much everyone to the Armenians, Irish, gypsies, Cosacks and Kurds.

My point is that this has little to due with apologies and everything to do with the Chinese playing the new bully on the Asian block. And they are looking just like that: bullies. Let them block trade with Japan; it will be mutually destructive. The Chinese are just as vulnerable due to their manufacturing slowdown and property bubble, and they is NO WAY they will really take action--all a bunch of talk, as per usual with the Chinese.

btw--Mao systematically killed more Chinese than the Japanese ever did.

^So you're saying China should wait longer?

The australians have apologised to the Aborigines after an even longer period.

The Chinese want Japan to recognize its horrible past. I don't see how Japan could do it so long after the fact, though. Maybe the centennial anniversary of Japanese occupation in China could be declared a period of national mourning and shame in Japan.

Jin Baisong from the Chinese Academy of International Trade – who said that China should use its power as Japan’s biggest creditor with £141bn of bonds to “impose sanctions on Japan in the most effective manner” and bring Tokyo’s festering fiscal crisis to a head.

Mr Jin called on China to invoke the “security exception” rule under the World Trade Organisation to punish Japan, rejecting arguments that a trade war between the two Pacific giants would be mutually destructive.

Separately, the Hong Kong Economic Journal reported that China is drawing up plans to cut off Japan’s supplies of rare earth metals needed for hi-tech industry.

We are worrying about the Chinese, but what about the massing of warships nearer to home and the possibility of an attack on Iranian facilities ?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iran/9545597/Armada-of-international-naval-power-massing-in-the-Gulf-as-Israel-prepares-an-Iran-strike.html

I agree Wirehead, China is a big bully fatso. Oil and gas reserves in the so called China sea is not their own wealth or property. China should respect the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Convention_on_the_Law_of_the_Sea

china's just being a big bully. it's involved in territorial disputes with a number of other asian nations, even if those areas are geographically far from the chinese mainland. they're good at coming up with 'ancient' texts to validate their claims, even if all they did was use them as trade routes hundreds, maybe thousands of years ago.

sonofqatar, they had something like the arab spring a very long time ago. in tiananmen.

japan's also involved in a territorial dispute with korea though.

Ya...they are like that.....bit like the Cubans...:P

ROFL... She would do anything for The Party :O)

Ah Bit, you just miffed because your little friend Kom fuk Esy Lai Loveulongtime is going to the home front to sacrifice herself by giving her services for free and won't be playing with you anymore...:P

Thst sums it up. Nice way to raise kids to be future leaders, teach them and pay them to destroy when things don't go their way. Children!!!! I hate this mentality, but your right, this is China. Thanks for reminding me.

Imagine what would happen in other countries if you could be demoted because your son crashed his Ferrari and killed a man?

The natives are getting restless!

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/04/world/asia/after-ling-jihuas-demotion-news-of-sons-crash-in-ferrari.html?_r=0

China spring is approaching!

^Yep. Things are bad. Just imagine what it will look like during the power shift of 2017!

The authorities would rather let the nationals vent anger aimed at Japan, than about domestic issues.

^Yep. Authorities could have prevented such an uprising, or timed this quarrel over the islands to next year, but they decided to stir things up now. Japan's attempted purchase of some of the islands has only made things worse (or in the eyes of the CCP, maybe 'better').

This is China.. Nothing of this scale happens without the knowledge and perhaps even tacit agreement of the authorities ..

Getting heated! Overturned cars in dealerships? Japanese families told to stay inside? Hope nobody gets hurt! yep let's hope not. But it is relevant to QL's . We need those land cruisers, there isn't enough here in Qatar. Especially different color choices. ;p

Looks like a bunch of kids doing this. Maybe they are paid from their elders to do it ......just like most protests regarding a certain film that students and even children are protesting,cuz their

Elders tell them, to follow along and do it....Hummmm. What's wrong with kids these days?

Maybe minding their elders is not such a good idea these days. Just Sayn

I think the Japanese are still victims of their colonial past, everyone is cutting from them a piece, the Russians the chines and the Koreans and they just can’t do anything about it because of their past. They must do something about it before it’s too late

Fubar, agree 100% that it is a distraction from the power shift. That last thing China wants is for more assembly over their **itty political system, so what better way to distract everyone than a row with Japan.

Getting heated! Overturned cars in dealerships? Japanese families told to stay inside? Hope nobody gets killed.

But for how long Brit?

http://www.thenational.ae/thenationalconversation/industry-insights/finance/qatar-weighs-principle-and-capital#page1

http://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/Qatar-Rich-and-Dangerous.html

It is indeed interesting. The Chinese / Russian vetos though are not stopping the shipment of arms or the logistical support being given to the FSA.

So, for now both sides will continue with the political posturing whilst covertly continuing with their plans..

Who will go to the Ramada sports bar if there is a trade war with China?

On a related note, Qatar and China ARE getting angry with one another over their diametrically opposed positions on Syria.

Now, I have to agree, brit. We should be concerned about China. This thread IS relevant!

China also exports "other services" to Qatar. Therefore, we have to be careful not to pick a fight :o)

According to Khanan, everything happening in China is important for us, since China is the greatest exporter of goods to Qatar. I mean, the normal rubbish products, of course.

Are we talking about the working condition of the Nike and Apple factories or the polution being caused by the manufacturing plants or the censorship of the media ?

I understand, Khanan, and China is the biggest exporter to Qatar. So we are very interested in what's happening in China. Even the Human Rights issues in China have to be discussed on QatarLiving.

US & Japan are installing a new missile defense system in Japan, things getting serious?

"britexpat said...'time for China to flex its muscles and take the islands by force ..."

Brit, it is such a big blunder, be reminded of the consequences of war. There's no winner but only losers. Old people, women and children.

Diplomacy is still the best solution for all conflicts.

"Women speaks without thinking, men acts violently without thinking"

of Qatar's LNG so we are very much interested what happening in Yaban :)

Time for Japan to fully militarize again to defend its sovereign territory.

Probably Brit. I thought it was more to do with things like Bo Xilai, the recent Hong Kong 'elections', labor problems, domestic inflation, poor economic indicators, and the almost inevitable property bubble that has been allowed to grow too large.

But Generals flexing muscles usually works best among the less educated people in the world. It worked a treat for Bush.

The transitionis usually quite smooth ,since everything is planned ahead of time.

Could it be more to do with the Generals wanting to show their power.

It's just a distraction by the Communist Party in the leadup to the appointment of the next leader.

It can take the focus of domestic problems for a few months, and all the little people can scream and shout at Japan and feel all big in the pants.

Its'time for China to flex its muscles and take the islands by force ..

It's very important for Qatar and QatarLiving. All our lives will immediately be influenced by what happens in the Japanese Sea.