The Japanese better be careful. The last 2 paragraphs make it clear, China is still bitter over WW 2. Tokyo city officials survey islands at center of dispute with China ahead of planned purchase - The Washington Post
The PRC is doing the same thing with the Spratley's with an even more dubious claim of ownership. I swear the PRC is acting just like Imperial Germany did at the turn of the last century.
This is escalating.... Panasonic, Canon shutter China factories amid violent anti-Japan protests - World News
According to Senkaku Islands - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/senkaku.htm gives a bit more detail including the following: but then goes on to say:
China says its claims go back hundreds of years. Japan did a survey in 1885, found the island uninhabited. In 1895, they formally recognized them as a sovereign territory. The law is the law, but both need the resources in this area. Gonna Get Ugly....
I would tend to favor the Japanese claim. Otherwise Portugal for instance could claim NewFoundland. The claims over the Falkland Islands would also be a president. Ironic that the Japanese government bought the islands to try and head off a crisis....
Many questions here and many bad feelings. Combine the wounds of WW 2 with the need of natural resources for both nations and this could be a powder keg..... Remember Japan is #3 and china is #2 in world economies. Japan has pledged to go nuclear free soon.
Considering this is more political and national pride, isn't there anything else behind these claims? (Like underwater resources).
It's not just Japan. China has been getting aggressive with anyone it can. It has been disputing land claims with Vietnam and the Philippines as well. China does not seem to believe in territorial or international waters. With so much bullying you can't help but wonder when China is going to get too cocky and take things too far.
From what I'm reading the Chinese are just about claiming the whole China Sea. What if they decided to take these islands and then Taiwan ? Would S. Korea, and others be far behind ?
Until Japan acknowledges and apologizes for what she has done to China during WW2, these two will remain hostile. Sure its about flexing muscle, but China isnt willing to go down this time.... PS, Japan is also quite desperate for land, the peace treaty between Japan and Russia has not been signed yet because of the Kuril islands.
