China steps up East Sea/Sea of Japan dispute

[Mulboyne]

Kyodo via Yahoo: China believed to have OK'd gas project within Japan's EEZ: minister
Beijing is believed to have granted Chinese companies the rights to conduct natural gas exploration in Japan's exclusive economic zone in the East China Sea, Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Shoichi Nakagawa said Sunday. "We have obtained information" that China has set up gas facilities in "several locations within Japan's EEZ," Nakagawa told a Fuji TV program.
This is the first time that information on China's effort to carry out a gas project within Japan's EEZ has surfaced. Nakagawa indicated that the Chinese decision would trigger a diplomatic dispute, saying, "Ignoring the EEZ is unfriendly." Japan will ask China whether Beijing has given the green light to the gas project in the area at a bilateral working-level meeting, expected to be held by the end of the month, he said.

Asia Times October 5th: Japan's top hawk ruffles China's feathers
HONG KONG - In the Asian and global spotlight now is the new conservative foreign minister, Nobutaka Machimura, 59, who succeeded the non-partisan Yoriko Kawaguchi. Machimura is a member of the right-wing faction of the governing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), led by former prime minister Mori Yoshiro. This perceived hawkish face of Japan's foreign policy and its possible further right-wing tilt has caused serious misgivings in Beijing. Relations between China and Japan already are strained and Machimura may not make them any easier...For a long time, China has been fretting over the looming emergence of the Mori Faction, which apparently tends to support the independence of Taiwan.
...Some Japan watchers believe that former foreign minister Yoriko Kawaguchi probably was kicked out of office because she adopted a moderate diplomacy toward China...Kawaguchi told Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan that she expected the East Sea, known to the Japanese as the Sea of Japan, to become an ocean of Sino-Japan friendship rather than one of conflict...Yet shortly after those parting words, Kawaguchi left the scene as Koizumi rearranged his cabinet.

[stuckinkysuhu]

Interesting this article refers to the Sea of Japan as the East Sea. In one of my university classes we have a world map from the PRC and the sea is clearly labled "nihonkai" written in Chinese style kanji. This may have changed since that map was published, but it seems more likely this publication is anti-Japanese and/or is trying to make a statement.

[Big Booger]

I will never call that body of water the "East Sea".. it has and will forever be the Sea of Japan. China has the Yellow Sea, why not rename it, the East Sea?

[Taro Toporific]

[FG Lurker]

Interesting this article refers to the Sea of Japan as the East Sea. In one of my university classes we have a world map from the PRC and the sea is clearly labled "nihonkai" written in Chinese style kanji. This may have changed since that map was published, but it seems more likely this publication is anti-Japanese and/or is trying to make a statement.

It's the Koreans who want to rename the Nihonkai to the East Sea.

It's really a fucked idea though, even more so than usual. It's called the Sea of Japan for a *reason*. If Japan wasn't where it is, there would literally be no sea there. It would just be part of the open Pacific Ocean.

Korea at one point managed to get a few mapping companies to use both names on their maps... Japan kinda freaked about that though, pointing out the obvious bit that without Japan the sea wouldn't exist.

Nationalism... The ultimate mind fuck.

[FG Lurker]

Related news from Xinhua:

Japan cannot add Chinese territory into its military plan

BEIJING, Jan. 18 -- The latest release of a set of Japan's detailed emergency military programmes against China on the issue of the Diaoyu Islands has put Tokyo's sincerity in doubt, having said on many occasions how much it values peace and friendship with China and having vowed not to go to war with its neighbours again.

[...]

The Diaoyu Islands, called the Senkakus in Japan, has been part of China's territory since ancient times.

[...]

Tokyo's actions involving neighbours have clearly indicated what kind of policy it really holds towards them.

(Full Article)

Does anyone know the actual history of these islands? Everyone seems to want them...

[Ketou]

Nationalism... The ultimate mind fuck.

I think more the ultimate fucked mind!!
Nationalism and religion. The true mark of a closed, and therefore insane, mind.

[FG Lurker]

I think more the ultimate fucked mind!!
Nationalism and religion. The true mark of a closed, and therefore insane, mind.

I don't think all religion is bad. Certainly it is not good when taken to extremes.

Patriotism is also not bad. Having pride in one's country is good. Nationalism is the extreme form of that though...

All things in moderation.

[cstaylor]

Does anyone know the actual history of these islands? Everyone seems to want them...

I think a more apt explanation would be "winners keepers losers weepers". If Japan wants to deploy undersea munitions to frustrate Chinese exploration...

[FG Lurker]

Does anyone know the actual history of these islands? Everyone seems to want them...

I think a more apt explanation would be "winners keepers losers weepers". If Japan wants to deploy undersea munitions to frustrate Chinese exploration...

I'm curious though. I think Japan, China, and Taiwan all claim these islands, no? It just seems that it should be relatively clear to an outside observer who actually should control them.

Or maybe not...

[cstaylor]

Does anyone know the actual history of these islands? Everyone seems to want them...

I think a more apt explanation would be "winners keepers losers weepers". If Japan wants to deploy undersea munitions to frustrate Chinese exploration...

I'm curious though. I think Japan, China, and Taiwan all claim these islands, no? It just seems that it should be relatively clear to an outside observer who actually should control them.

Or maybe not... ]How about "island nations get priority".

[FG Lurker]

How about "island nations get priority".

Well that cuts out China... But not Taiwan. Really though, everyone wants them...But who has real territorial rights?

I like your new sig cs!

[cstaylor]

How about "island nations get priority".

Well that cuts out China... But not Taiwan. ]Ah, but China is always posturing it's one China policy, so I think Japan and Taiwan can work a deal in exchange for military assistance during an attack.

I like your new sig cs!

A bet is a bet, although I wonder if AK could have kept from swearing for a whole month...

[FG Lurker]

How about "island nations get priority".

Well that cuts out China... But not Taiwan. ]Ah, but China is always posturing it's one China policy, so I think Japan and Taiwan can work a deal in exchange for military assistance during an attack.

Yep, you could be onto something with that!

Clearly it isn't the islands that anyone wants though, it is the exploration/oil/gas/mineral rights...

I like your new sig cs!

A bet is a bet, although I wonder if AK could have kept from swearing for a whole month...

You could always try double-or-nothing!!

[Mulboyne]

Yonhap: Japan Asks Airlines to Reject 'East Sea' Name
Japan's foreign ministry sent 34 international airlines flying in to Tokyo a letter asking them to reject South Korean requests to use the name "East Sea" when referring to the body of water that separates the two countries, an official at the South Korean embassy in Tokyo confirmed Friday. The letter, which was sent on Jan. 14, is seen as a response to the South Korean Ministry of Construction and Transportation's request of airlines flying to Seoul to use the term "East Sea" instead of "Sea of Japan." The 34 airlines include the two South Korean airlines Korean Air and Asiana Airline, the official said.