How China PWND Japan

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A bitter feud with Japan had been escalating since September 7th, when a Chinese fishing boat ran into a Japanese patrol in waters which both countries claim as sovereign territory. Today Japan released the boat's Chinese skipper, who had been accused of bashing into the two Japanese vessels deliberately. With the release of the captain, Zhan Qixiong, the diplomatic world breathes a sigh of relief. But how to score this match? Japan comes off looking weak, as it succumbs to an avalanche of pressure. But the ferocity of the Chinese response has harmed China ultimately, by undermining confidence in China as a responsible stakeholder in the region.

...

Since the fishing crew and its captain were arrested, China has continually ratcheted up the pressure to have them returned. It cut diplomatic communications and even arrested four Japanese nationals, allegedly for filming in a restricted military area. China’s response seemed to take an especially nefarious turn when it apparently suspended its export of rare-earth minerals, which are vital to making electronics components used in everything from handheld gadgets to cars. On September 23rd China emphatically denied that it is blocking exports. And this may be true: there probably isn't a formal directive. But in a country where informal rules abound, exporters know that it can pay to withhold shipments—in solidarity with a government that is angry at its neighbour.

At its heart, the squabble was not only about the Senkaku islands, called the Diaoyu by the Chinese, where the boat collision took place earlier this month. Instead, it was likely a message to other countries with which China has territorial disputes, particularly in the South China Sea. This week China showed that it is willing to go to extraordinary lengths to exert its maritime claims. Lately it has taken to calling the South China Sea, which it disputes with five of its South-East Asian neighbours, a "core national interest".

Moreover, it forced the new Japanese government and Naoto Kan, its prime minister, to make a hard choice: between a handful of uninhabited rocks, far from Japan's main islands, and the future of its economy. Japan's decision not to go to the wall for its territorial claims looks expedient, but it may come to haunt it in the long term.

This has also been a test of China, though in a way the country seems not to understand. Its actions have called into question its maturity as a responsible international actor and undermined its pretensions to a "peaceful rise". Other states observe a host of traditions to help see them work through border disputes and express their displeasure with one another. The melodrama of China's reaction, entirely disproportionate to the matter at hand, made it impossible for the two sides to find a mutually acceptable outcome. The acute crisis may be over but this resolution is sure to usher in an extended period of chill between the countries.

http://www.economist.com/blogs/asiaview/2010/09/chinas_spat_japan?fsrc=scn/fb/wl/bl/outbutnotover

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Today Japan, tomorrow Australia.

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Today Japan, tomorrow Australia.

As long as Australia doesn't become powerful enough to challenge the supremacy of the Chinese, I doubt China will care. They are busy with their immediate neighborhood for now and are busy taking down the true powers of the region - countries like Japan. Australia doesn't even rate.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

A bitter feud with Japan had been escalating since September 7th, when a Chinese fishing boat ran into a Japanese patrol in waters which both countries claim as sovereign territory. Today Japan released the boat's Chinese skipper, who had been accused of bashing into the two Japanese vessels deliberately. With the release of the captain, Zhan Qixiong, the diplomatic world breathes a sigh of relief. But how to score this match? Japan comes off looking weak, as it succumbs to an avalanche of pressure. But the ferocity of the Chinese response has harmed China ultimately, by undermining confidence in China as a responsible stakeholder in the region.

...

Since the fishing crew and its captain were arrested, China has continually ratcheted up the pressure to have them returned. It cut diplomatic communications and even arrested four Japanese nationals, allegedly for filming in a restricted military area. China’s response seemed to take an especially nefarious turn when it apparently suspended its export of rare-earth minerals, which are vital to making electronics components used in everything from handheld gadgets to cars. On September 23rd China emphatically denied that it is blocking exports. And this may be true: there probably isn't a formal directive. But in a country where informal rules abound, exporters know that it can pay to withhold shipments—in solidarity with a government that is angry at its neighbour.

At its heart, the squabble was not only about the Senkaku islands, called the Diaoyu by the Chinese, where the boat collision took place earlier this month. Instead, it was likely a message to other countries with which China has territorial disputes, particularly in the South China Sea. This week China showed that it is willing to go to extraordinary lengths to exert its maritime claims. Lately it has taken to calling the South China Sea, which it disputes with five of its South-East Asian neighbours, a "core national interest".

Moreover, it forced the new Japanese government and Naoto Kan, its prime minister, to make a hard choice: between a handful of uninhabited rocks, far from Japan's main islands, and the future of its economy. Japan's decision not to go to the wall for its territorial claims looks expedient, but it may come to haunt it in the long term.

This has also been a test of China, though in a way the country seems not to understand. Its actions have called into question its maturity as a responsible international actor and undermined its pretensions to a "peaceful rise". Other states observe a host of traditions to help see them work through border disputes and express their displeasure with one another. The melodrama of China's reaction, entirely disproportionate to the matter at hand, made it impossible for the two sides to find a mutually acceptable outcome. The acute crisis may be over but this resolution is sure to usher in an extended period of chill between the countries.

http://www.economist.com/blogs/asiaview/2010/09/chinas_spat_japan?fsrc=scn/fb/wl/bl/outbutnotover

IMO, the Chinese understood fully--and as far as their "responsibility", their arming of Naxalites (in India), Nepalese Maoists (now government of Nepal) and Sendero Luminoso shows that pretence to be hollow.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

As long as Australia doesn't become powerful enough to challenge the supremacy of the Chinese, I doubt China will care. They are busy with their immediate neighborhood for now and are busy taking down the true powers of the region - countries like Japan. Australia doesn't even rate.

True. China probably doesn't even know that Australia is the standard of the world.

[chri'stina 190]

Today Japan, tomorrow Australia.

Will you ever tire of mentioning Australia all the time? Yeah I know why you do it, but isn't it getting old to you or do you just actually enjoy doing it? Hey if you do, then go on.

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IMO, the Chinese understood fully--and as far as their "responsibility", their arming of Naxalites (in India), Nepalese Maoists (now government of Nepal) and Sendero Luminoso shows that pretence to be hollow.

The guys who run the show in Beijing are a bunch of lying scumbags. But that's ok because Mother Teresa's have never dominated the earth, British militaries and Genghis Khans have.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Will you ever tire of mentioning Australia all the time? Yeah I know why you do it, but isn't it getting old to you or do you just actually enjoy doing it? Hey if you do, then go on.

Thank you for the permission to continue.

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Will you ever tire of mentioning Australia all the time? Yeah I know why you do it, but isn't it getting old to you or do you just actually enjoy doing it? Hey if you do, then go on.

I know what you're saying, but in this context bringing up Australia is actually quite appropriate. They are in China's backyard and for their own sake I hope they never decide to become too powerful or too strong. China will crush them.

[chri'stina 190]

Thank you for the permission to continue.

You're welcome, however I will not like it.

lol/

I know what you're saying, but in this context bringing up Australia is actually quite appropriate. They are in China's backyard and for their own sake I hope they never decide to become too powerful or too strong. China will crush them.

How convenient.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

I know what you're saying, but in this context bringing up Australia is actually quite appropriate. They are in China's backyard and for their own sake I hope they never decide to become too powerful or too strong. China will crush them.

Thank you for understanding my point.

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How convenient.

To the contrary, I would say it is quite inconvenient for the Australians that their island is in China's back yard.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

To the contrary, I would say it is quite inconvenient for the Australians that their island is in China's back yard.

Remember when Hitler said, "Today Germany, tomorrow the world"?

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Remember when Hitler said, "Today Germany, tomorrow the world"?

No, old man, I don't remember

[chri'stina 190]

I guess the US should worry too since Hawaii is only a few thousand miles away from China too.

Edited September 24, 2010 by chri'stina