Ready for war with China?

[Ocean11 0]

It looks like there might be some hysterical activity going on in the South China Sea one of these fine days. According to the Times Online, both China and Japan are 'desperate for a stable, local source of oil and gas'. Desperate even.

 

Thank heavens we have a mature, wise, and far-sighted PM in charge here.

[2pints-mate 0]

Things that bad over there are they Ocey? I bet you wish the leader of Japan was as good as good ole Tony.

[Ocean11 0]

I've taken the cover off our anti-aircraft gun and checked the rounds in the can. But it may not come to that.

 

Of course having leaders who had original ideas about solving energy crises would be very comforting (besides not wearing a tie). But it looks like Koizumi will follow the Blair example.

[2pints-mate 0]

Seriously, big problems between Japan and China?

[Fattwins 0]

This one is all Chinas doing they are playing this one up for something. that textbook is not even used its like .1% used in japan which means some hinky dink town is using it maybe.

[Goemon 0]

Fattwins: I think O11's referring to the territorial dispute in the East China Sea (not the fluffed up textbook issue).

[Fattwins 0]

but its all linked man its all linked

[miteyak 0]

It's quite possibly all about the Taiwan issue, and China showing just what a pain in the arse they can be if others interfere in their 'internal' affairs.

 

They're Chinese, and, as anyone whose lived through a Chinese election or New Year knows, it's all about noise, a whole lot of sabre rattling. Ten years ago when I was in Taiwan they were lobbing missiles over the island, things seem rather tame right now...

 

It's an interesting 'twist' however, the way the Japanese seem to be pulling their chain... it's a slightly new approach, and the outcome could be, er, interesting... but probably just a lot more noise.

 

Could the States and Japan possibly be prepping the region for a declaration of independence from Taiwan... if so, better do it soon, before China gets them new Euro weapons...

[Ocean11 0]

Interesting perspective there miteyak. You should be an analyst.

[miteyak 0]

Possibility No.2, Japan wants a deterioration of relations with China so that it can go after the gas, and setting up a provocative (but morally defendable) regional defence initiative including Taiwan will (has) China behaving badly, and makes China take the bad guy role. China's preidctability falling prey to the wiley ol' Koizumi?

 

Either way, unlikely China'll attack anyone for now, being as the three most advanced armies in the region are stacked against it... not to mention the global economic meltdown that would ensue if these chaps stopped trading/lending money to each other.

[Yuki's Passion 1]

Im halfway through China Inc. by Ted C. Fishman regarding Chinas rapid transformation using just about every superlative imaginable.

 

I think yall would enjoy it along with a few recent articles but by the sound of it yall have read em:

 

http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=17&ItemID=7632

 

http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=44&ItemID=7637

[Ocean11 0]

Here is the solution for Japan instead of starting a war (maybe) over unproven fossil fuel reserves.

 

Japan should finance the planting of jatropha trees in China's marginal agricultural areas. These can be cultivated with human excrement and they produce biofuel (a good deal really). They also actually improve marginal land. The income from the sale of biofuel within China and exports to Japan will revitalize China's rural areas and bring in women attracted by the new wealth (women are in decline in rural areas), solving the problems of unemployment and unbalanced population. The integration of Chinese and Japanese economies based on the agricultural production of energy will result in eternal peace and prosperity for both countries.

 

Or we could burn their flags, beat up their students, sink their patrol ships and have a right merry ding-dong. Again.

[damian 0]

The back drop: Australia has dual trade ambitions with both Japan and China.

 

Interesting and strong language from Japan:

 

 Quote:

.....Australia facing pressure to play a more forthright regional role as a friend of Japan and to act as a counterweight to the rising power of China.

 

Officials in Japan's Foreign Ministry had linked talks about trade arrangements with the view Australia should "shoulder a very important role along with India to keep the balance of power in Asia", said Kazuo Ogoura, the president of the Japan Foundation, a cultural exchange organisation.

Australian Prime Minister:

 Quote:

This is the first time I've ever seen such a statement, officially quoted by an official of the Foreign Ministry, that in the view of Japan, Australia should be seen as a partner with whom Japan could form an alliance with a whole Asia-Pacific or global perspective in view," he said.

 Quote:

...Australia's strong support for Japan's push for a seat on the United Nations Security Council is likely to be viewed negatively in Beijing.

 Quote:

Mr Ogoura said: "Australia and Japan should and could form a closer partnership because the incidents that have been taking place in Korea and China have highlighted the political and socio-political immaturity of China and Korea and the absence of freedom, particularly in China."

 Quote:

An issue that may be raised informally is Australia's push to become a member of the East Asia Summit, a new regional grouping that expands the membership of Association of South-East Asian Nations plus three - China, Japan and South Korea.

This would require signing the Treaty of Amity:

 

 Quote:

After early reluctance, Australia is now examining ways in which it can sign the non-aggression pact while maintaining its treaty obligations with the United States.

[lin 0]

Here's some background for you 2pints

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4443821.stm

[Karnidge 2]

A friend of mine her brother is in Shang Hai and not too comfortable right now a bit worried for his safety. Running a restaurant as well.

What good covering the kanji/katakana up on the signs is going to do I don't know but..

[rach 1]

"Be vicious towards Japanese devils!"

>>>>Protesters' banner outside Japanese consulate, Shanghai

[lin 0]

This is worrying. The fact that authorities etc are apparently not doing anything - even encouraging it.

 

------------------

 

Although the government insists the rallies are spontaneous, it could control them if it wanted. That much was apparent yesterday in Beijing, where students were reportedly confined to their dormitories and hundreds of police were checking the identities of people who attempted to enter Tiananmen Square. In Guangzhou, the authorities broke up a planned rally at a football stadium.

 

But in Shanghai the police not only approved yesterday's demonstration, they actively encouraged it.

[Goemon 0]

As much as I am against the Chinese (and Korean)protest marchs, I will cede them one point: They come out in reasonable numbers on foot rather than just doing annoying unintelligible, loudspeaker drive-bys like the black vans targetting the Korean and Chinese embassies in Tokyo this past weekend.

[I'm Sexy 0]

I am shocked with news on tv recently. Is it just Japan news or like this showing overseas?

[Yuki's Passion 1]

I would think it will be america who pushes for war with China, or becomes more aggressive against them to say the least (possibly, using taiwan as an excuse). As China's needs for gas increases the price/barrel will increase, pushing the price up in the States. Americans are completely bi#ching about paying something like $2.00/GALLON. Wait 5-10 years after Chinese middle class increases in wealth and the need for cars increases.

[js 0]

 Quote:

Originally posted by Yamakashi:
Americans are completely bi#ching about paying something like $2.00/GALLON. Wait 5-10 years after Chinese middle class increases in wealth and the need for cars increases.

They should get a collective wake-up call on reality!

In equivalent terms, we pay $4.20 per gallon for petrol. (I.e. $1.15 per litre)

Is it a matter of a 'tipping' society so spoilt that they truly believe they should get stuff cheaper?

Suppose we all just gotta remember: you can hate individuals from a particular country, but can't ever justify hating an entire nation (race).

[damian 0]

North Korea has turned off their main nuclear reactor power plant. This means that they are re-directing the resources into the production of weapons grade plutonium which will come in handy of there is Sino-Japanese/American conflict which would surely wash over NK in some way or another. I think the industrial world is about to get some bang for its buck. Literally.

 

On a semi related note: Indonesia, the second most prominent area for seismic activity and high population, has decided to build a nuclear power plant (to replace vanishing fossil fuels energy sources). That is high risk for a few reasons.

 

(oh, and on a purely environmental note and also a sign of desperation, Australia is continuing to financially encourage, via tax concessions, oil exploration in the Great Barrier Reef).

[Ocean11 0]

According to a Mainichi poll, 2/3 of Japanese don't think Koizumi is doing enough to resolve the situation. Large proportions of most countries populations don't appear to support the wars their 'leaders' are getting into. This is a sad state of affairs.

 

There are several other possibilities why NK have turned off their reactor. Our local reactor that supplies half of Shikoku's energy is always being turned off for one SNAFU or another. I wouldn't be at all surprised if they have the same sort of problems in NK. Imagine if you lived with speculation about your WMD threat status every time your local reactor leaked some cooling water...

[JellyBelly 1]

I'm interested to read up on the China-Japan relationship and the history. Any recommendations for good books anyone?

[happyhappy 0]

This isn't very good timing is it?

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4471455.stm

 

More than 160 Japanese lawmakers or their representatives have visited a controversial Japanese war shrine.

The visit comes amid mounting tensions with China, after weeks of protests over what China sees as Japan's failure to fully admit to wartime atrocities.