Bahtatboy

Widespread demonstrations across China targeting Japanese interests in protest at Japan's purchase (from a Japanese individual) of some islands located between Okinawa and Taiwan, to which China, Japan and Taiwan lay claim. Uninhabited but resource rich. Watching it on Japanese TV now; according to a Japanese commentator the demonstrators are primarily young, and easily inflamed by the teaching / indoctrination they receive at school which teaches that Japan is a constant threat.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-19620114

Just watching Japan / US news conference: in effect Japan asking US for assistance, US saying that they expect China and Japan to sort it out peacefully between themselves.

Tomorrow is the anniversary of a significant event in the establishment go the Manchurian puppet government, which will not be lost on the Chinese.

Beaverstate

Have not read the article but the US must stand by Japan period. A long term relation must be honored even in difficult situations. Not backing Japan tells all East Asian countries with security and economic ties to the US don't count on us. If so pull the fleet home, OK Australia?

auzdafluff

Exactly. Even though Taiwan wants to claim the islands for themselves, the reality is now the game is totally different for them.

If the US doesn't stand firm with Japan (who themselves could easily give the Chinese a big enough black eye to set their naval ambitions back a decade), then Taiwan can kiss goodbye to their independence.

That would be like a red rag to a bull.

Boomhauer

China claims islands that are far far more closer to other nations than to China; eg the Spratlys.
China is expansionist and imperialist, the West needs to stand up to Chinese ethnonationalism.

auzdafluff

You'd think they'd remember what it was like to be on the other end of that stick only 70 years ago and behave.

Norm_uk

The PRC Government is playing a dangerous game. One one hand they have to deflect attention from their slow progress in tackling local corruption and more political freedom so sabre rattling with Japan is a great tactic because Japan has never really made proper, high level amends for their actions in WII, which still miffs a lot of Chinese (Koreans, Filipinos and others too though to be fair).

One the other hand these 'protests' will draw out the worst elements and the government may just end up loosing control and having to back up this with action against Japan (likely a limited naval conflict). Japan's nationalists will be loving this as well for sure.

All this will really do is ensure smart Chinese people keep leaving China for Taiwan, Europe and the USA.

N.

Norm_uk

Imperialist?

How many military bases does China have outside of China - I've lost count?

It's clearly a case of deflection and manipulation of their people's sentiments towards Japan. It's not likely to win them new territories or get them garrisons and/or defence treaties all over Asia (you know, like the Americans have)

N.