..and people start shooting.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-25155605

The Japanese and Chinese are not exactly best buddies and the Americans are not going to let the Chinese get away with this.

It has all the potential to turn very nasty.

Very true. We have to remember that above all else, China's rulers have communist mindsets and will behave accordingly. Combine that with the Americans' propensity towards gung-ho-ness and yes we have a powder keg situation.

America had B-52's flying in the area within a few hours of the 'zone' being declared, so we know what they think of it.
If the Chinese keep pushing the Japanese into a corner, I think they are likely to react to that, with force.

So Australia's largest trading partner is getting quite cross with Australia's major military ally.

This seems less than ideal.

Well the US owes China one and a quarter trillion dollars. One sure way of writing that debt off is to start a war with them. Just think own much manufacturing would come back to the West as well... I can't see any downsides to it personally.

Unless you live in Australia.

Further interesting reading...

The US Australia military link.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/nati...1226755452520#

The China Australia economic link.

http://www.afr.com/p/australia2-0/au...3LCDM0n3NzUDhJ

Personally, I think money will narrow Australia's choices. Luckily, I like rice.

If the US can engineer a conflict between China and Japan and somehow drag Russia into it as well, the US will boom... it will wipe that debt off in no time.

Might be an idea to buy shares in BAe and Lockheed.

Dangit- why do these things happen just when I'll be flying in that zone in a JAL aircraft on my way to Tokyo.

You might want to memorise these aircraft markings and have a parachute to hand.

Gee thanks!!

Not to worry, the captain will get you there

Lol!

People have been saying that area has the potential to turn nasty for years.

Let me see.....Japan and the Soviet Union over the continued occupation of the Sakalin Islands; China, the United States and Taiwan over Taiwanese defiance to mainland China; and now China, Japan and the US over natural resources......

As there has been so much sabre-rattling in that area of the world in the last70 years, I think that this is just posturing on both sides over who owns the gas field which happens to be right in the middle.

Exactly, as you say it has been going on forever, nothing to see here