China and Japan going to war over the Senkaku islands

[celestemekent]

Seems China and Japan have been arguing over those islands forever, they are not really very near either country and they are currently uninhabited, There have been huge demonstrations in both countries over the other's claims. As China looks outward for greater resources, those islands have become a focus recently and it seems there just might be a naval battle to seize them from the Japanese. Possible oil reserves have made China more aggressive since they have a much greater need of oil for their growing automobiles. Treaties between Japan and the US might just bring the US into this situation.

Senkaku Islands dispute - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[wwjd_kilden]

Why do we humans have to be so greedy? I hope Norway won't go that cray when our oil runs out

 

[djness]

Well Japan wouldn't really stand a chance at this point against China, so I guess China wins this round!

 

[Nautilus]

Well Japan wouldn't really stand a chance at this point against China, so I guess China wins this round!

Except if China attacks Japan, I am pretty sure we would in some way intervene. Besides China's advantage in numbers doesnt really account for much when we still have the more destructive weaponry.

 

[celestemekent]

Yahoo news reports "
Tokyo is running short of options in dealing with its increasingly assertive giant neighbor over disputed islands in the East China Sea, as the United States attempts to remain neutral and calls for calm from both sides.
In China, anti-Japanese demonstrations have now spread to as many as 100 cities as tensions mount over Japan’s purchase of islands it calls the Senkaku and China calls the Diaoyu. The islets, which were owned by a Japanese family, lie between the two countries.
China reacted angrily to the brief landing Tuesday of two Japanese protesters on the main island of the group, even as a large flotilla of Chinese fishing vessels and a separate group of surveillance ships were heading for the disputed territories.
“The unlawful landing of the Japanese right-wingers on the Chinese territory of the Diaoyu islands was a gravely provocative action violating Chinese territorial sovereignty,” said foreign ministry spokesperson Hong Lei in an issued statement.
The Japanese government has been noticeably cautious in its own recent pronouncements on the dispute, no doubt wary of inflaming passions further in China, where Sept. 18 is remembered as the day of the Liutiaohu (Manchurian) Incident that was used as an excuse by Japan to invade and occupy Manchuria."

 

[Dude653]

Going to war with China is is a BAD idea. They have a good economy and a practacaly infinite supply of troops.

 

[quakerzen]

Going to war with China is is a BAD idea. They have a good economy and a practacaly infinite supply of troops.

But Japan has the US, the strongest military in the world, as a strong ally. I'd love to see China try to take Japanese land while the US is still around. China thinks they're entitled to things because of what Japan did 70 years ago. That's Japanese land and the evil religion-hating Chinese government needs to back off and deal with their crazies.

 

[jimmydiggs]

But Japan has the US, the strongest military in the world, as a strong ally. I'd love to see China try to take Japanese land while the US is still around. China thinks they're entitled to things because of what Japan did 70 years ago. That's Japanese land and the evil religion-hating Chinese government needs to back off and deal with their crazies.

Wal-mart would collapse.

I'd buy a bunch of stuff just to re-sell at a higher price.

 

[celestemekent]

Well those islands are hardly indisputably Japanese. There is documentation as far back as 1532 that says it belongs to China and similarly dated material which states the opposite. Ironically they have never been occupied for longer than a very few days by either side and even now no one intends to occupy them. The natural resources surrounding them are the targets. Oil and gas under the sea and fisheries in the ocean nearby, resources that both Japan and China need. These islands have no water, no land to grow things, not even enough to land an airplane they are rocky desolate places far from both Japan and China.

The Chinese navy is a relatively new one filled mostly with old Russian ships, their personnel have little experience in naval warfare and it is doubted they could beat the Japanese navy in a one on one fight. Their respective air forces would find it hard to fight for long over these islands since their ranges are not long enough to spend more than a few minutes at a time before they would need to refuel. The Japanese navy participates with the US navy in practice drills and is by far the more ready the issue is far from a simple one.

The US state department has told both countries that we dont wish to participate in any sort of warfare over these islands and they need to find some diplomatic solution. However if push comes to shove the US would likely take the Japanese side (maybe.) It would be a lose/lose scenario for the US in either case.

 

[preachersaul]

But Japan has the US, the strongest military in the world, as a strong ally. I'd love to see China try to take Japanese land while the US is still around. China thinks they're entitled to things because of what Japan did 70 years ago. That's Japanese land and the evil religion-hating Chinese government needs to back off and deal with their crazies.

Yes, America has a strong military. It couldn't however take China on her own backyard. China has the largest air force in the world, and might see a good old war as anefficient way of dealing with her population problem. But neither Obama nor Romney are crazy enough to go for China. China is America's biggest trading partner, so declaring war would shatter all growth in America's economy. All the recovered strength in that area would be gone.

Plus China are ready for this. Their subs have been doing raiding exercises on the US fleet in Taiwan for at least six years. When I was in the merchant navy the whole East China Sea went nuts because a chinese attack sub surfaced 300 yards off the port beam of the carrier stationed there and no-one saw it coming.

Speaking from a purely secular view China is the biggest, meanest country out there at the minute. Large developed military, enormous cash reserves, a huge amount of land and assets in Africa, good friends with Pakistan (and if Pakistan has to choose between the US and China, she'll choose China) and most of her other neighbours. Nobody can beat China using only conventional weapons except Russia (China's mate), and then all the old cold war tanks would have to be re-mobilised(too expensive).

If America declares war on China, and China takes it seriously, it'll get very ugly, very fast.

 

[celestemekent]

China has in fact been moving deeper into the China sea looking for energy resources and this situation with Japan is just a sign of that, she has been attempting to move all of her neighbors like the Philippines, Vietnam, and now Japan away from any claims on the oil in that area. Chinese attempts at getting more oil/energy reserves is probably one of the most significant moves that will continue into the future. It will be difficult to stop her in those attempts because they see it as a vital national interest and she will react severely if challenged.

If you remember it was the US who blocked Japan from getting some oil which set them up for their attacks in the Pacific prior to WWII and I sincerely hope that our leaders remember that, because if we do that to China we could pay horribly for that miscue. There are no easy solutions for this situation since China truly has a great need for energy and she has so increased her demand for oil in the last decade. China used to be filled with bicycles on every street but not any longer China is a country filled with cars now.

 

[quakerzen]

The United States is a sworn, undying ally of the free, democratic nation of Japan. If we go back on our word to help and protect its people, we are nothing more than hypocrites. In ANY war, we should take the side of the Japanese over China. China is nothing but a bunch of communist, hateful, anti-religious, women-hating, homophobic, bigots, and nothing will change that. Japan is a free nation, and while it is homogenous, it is a lot like the US, where people are free to live and worship as they choose. Japan may have about 1% of its population as Christians but that does not mean it is an enemy of our faith. Japan welcomes any faith with open arms, like the US. Buddhism and Shintoism are the most popular religions in the nation, but Jews and Christians have felt at home in Japan since the war. The same cannot be said for China, where, regardless of religion, people are often oppressed for "forward thinking" ideas and talk about equality for all. Japan is a clear friend of the US, while China is that person that lives down the street that buys your stuff, sometimes. This should not be confused.

 

[kayem77]

This is one of the stupidest reasons one could choose to go to war....I hope it doesn't come down to it, the Chinese and the Japanese would be the victims of their greedy and selfish leaders-.

 

[celestemekent]

Well if this ever does get down to actual warfare I would suggest that it is really about taking care of their own citizens, keeping them in enough Oil that their economies can keep going. If we didn't have enough oil and there was a source not far from our shores what would we do to get it? I'll bet anything that under those circumstances we would go to war over the oil too. Whether or not we like China as a nation they have a right to take care of their citizens and if we dont recognize that right then the consequences are on us if things get bad.

 

[jimmydiggs]

Well if this ever does get down to actual warfare I would suggest that it is really about taking care of their own citizens, keeping them in enough Oil that their economies can keep going. If we didn't have enough oil and there was a source not far from our shores what would we do to get it? I'll bet anything that under those circumstances we would go to war over the oil too. Whether or not we like China as a nation they have a right to take care of their citizens and if we dont recognize that right then the consequences are on us if things get bad.

I would think a Democrat as yourself would remember history a little more, and not be defending Chinese off-shore drilling.

 

[Ritter]

This isn't a dispute over islands, but something far deeper. A cultural dispute that has gone bloody many times before. The US has no choice but to proceed mindful of this and hope it doesn't come down to another war in the Pacific.