Japan and China at odds over Senkaku-Diaoyu disput

Japan and China quarrel over a lot of things, none so much lately as a small island chain within the South China Sea. A Chinese fishing trawler venturing too close to the Islands in Sept intensified the argument. The Japanese coast guard arrested the captain and launched a diplomatic firestorm. The brouhaha didn't help prospects of smooth sailing between Japan and China as they prepare to interact later this month at the Asia-Pacific summit. Read the Article here: Japan-China feud in South China Sea vexes both nations.



The argument with Japan/China Senkaku



There is more fire in the territorial argument within the South China Sea. This has occurred because Beijing has been bolder in pressuring Japan about the islands with all the economic might China has. The territory in question is known as the Senkaku Islands in Japan and the Diaoyu Islands in China. China-Japan relations sunk to their lowest point in decades on Sept. 7 when two Japanese patrol ships collided with a Chinese fishing vessel. Japan has let go of the captain after arresting the man from China. This hasn’t stopped the protests that have come from Beijing over it though. Japan patrolling the island is something China won’t stand for. Japan does not want to stop at all.



The Japanese coast guard movie



The Japan-China dispute over the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands intensified when a video of the coast guard incident was leaked on YouTube. A Japanese coast guard was responsible for filming the video. Of course, in hopes that the Japan-China Senkaku argument wouldn’t get any worse, Japan stopped it. Nov 5 it made its way to YouTube. Japanese TV broadcast it over and over after the movie of the collision and arrest was released. Google was asked to discover out who the video was uploaded by, as Google owns YouTube. ”Within the legal scope” of the investigation, Google is willing to cooperate.



Do not ignore the Asia-Pacific summit



The South China Sea event has soured Japan-China relations as leaders from 21 countries in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum prepare to meet in Yokohama Nov. 13-14. The Asia-Pacific summit will discuss how to facilitate trade and balanced economic growth within the region, which accounts for more than half the world's economic output. In Yokohama, Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan hopes that President Hu Jintao from China will meet with him. Tensions have ruled out the discussion which is something China is blaming Japan for. Japanese analysts say a conciliatory China would anger its own citizens, who deeply distrust Japan.



Data from



Reuters



af.reuters.com/article/energyOilNews/idAFTOE6A705Y20101108?pageNumber=3&virtualBrandChannel=



Asia News



asianews.it/news-en/Russia-and-China-against-Japan-for-dominance-in-the-Pacific-19932.html


AFP



google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jmLJaV0Xc2GXMdKptz7Z7_eMx33Q?docId=CNG.74bac5b4cc9462fd7346e1c94b90120a.811

Japan is also growing increasingly agitated with Russia over the disputed Southern Kuril Islands.

Unlike the Kurils, however, Japan actually has a legitimate case with China over the Senkaku Islands. China was never granted them formally and they just decided to "claim" it one day.

Computers and other high tech items that are a huge part of Japans economy, depend on having a supply of "rare earth", several different magnetic minerals.  There are very limited deposits of rare earth large enough to make mining practical.  Right now China supplies about 90% of the world's demand for it.