Gov. Blinky Ishihara wants to buy the Senkaku Rocks

[Samurai_Jerk]

Here's a deal: China can have the Senkaku islets if they give Tibet back

Only if we can guarantee that the Lamas won't be back in power once they do. Tibet was a horrible place under their rule too.

[Coligny]

Can we have Indochina and most of africa back ?

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

Can we have Indochina and most of africa back ?

That sounds fair if the Germans can have France...

[yanpa]

Hey, we Brits have legitimate claims to large parts of France!

[Coligny]

FUCK YOU ALL

[yanpa]

Is that French for "I fart in your general direction"?

[GomiGirl]

Well lets talk about Australia... give it back to the original inhabitants who share common DNA ancestry with the Chinese. So, it seems that China might want to claim Australia as well.

However, with the recent mining sales, they have nearly bought it all anyway and shipped it back as copper, iron ore etc.

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

Well lets talk about Australia... give it back to the original inhabitants who share common DNA ancestry with the Chinese. So, it seems that China might want to claim Australia as well.

However, with the recent mining sales, they have nearly bought it all anyway and shipped it back as copper, iron ore etc.

Well, we came within hours of possibly being Australiens...We must thank Lapérouse for showing the white flag.

One good thing about being a French colony, I suppose, is that there'd be lots of "les" action.

[yanpa]

Is Les Patterson not enough for you then?

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

Is Les Patterson not enough for you then?

Can never get anough of culcha and the yartz

[Russell]

Here's a deal: China can have the Senkaku islets if they give Tibet back

Only if we can guarantee that the Lamas won't be back in power once they do. Tibet was a horrible place under their rule too.

Wonder whether this is true, or just Maoist propaganda.

You know, those stories that the Tibetans ate out of human skulls before the Chinese invaded...

[Russell]

If China's claim is approved by the international court, Spain and Mexico should apply as well.

Very good point.

And that is exactly why such claims are baseless under International Law.

Then there is of course also the matter of time limit: how far back in time is a claim valid?

Hell, the Netherlands should belong to a lot of countries:

1. To China, because Genghis Khan once invaded Europe, and Inner-Mongolia is now part of China

2. To Italy, because of the Romans

3. To Scandinavia, because of the Vikings

4. To Spain, because we were owned by their King

5. To the UK and Russia, because of the Anglo-Russian invasion, even though it failed

6. To France, because of Napoleon

7. To Germany, because...

[Russell]

Interview with Professor Yabuki on the Senkaku/Diaoyu Crisis and U.S.-China-Japan Relations

Yabuki Susumu (矢吹晋), professor emeritus of Yokohama City University, is one of Japan’s most eminent and thoughtful, as well as prolific, China scholars. For over 40 years, Professor Yabuki has been remarkably prescient in his analysis of China’s rise, and of challenges and opportunities presented thereby for Japan and the United States.

Part 1

Part 2a

Part 2b

Very interesting interview!

[Russell]

Just when you think the situation could not become worse...

Island plans by Tokyo's nationalist governor may stoke fresh China tensions

Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara, a fiery nationalist whose failed bid to buy a group of disputed islands ignited a crisis with China, is pushing ahead with a plan to build structures there to hammer home Japan's claim, officials involved told Reuters.



Although such a move is not imminent, it would be certain to strain Japan's already shaky relations with China and could prompt a rebuke from the Obama administration, which has urged both sides to ease tensions by setting aside the dispute.

Ishihara's gambit appears aimed at forcing a new showdown in the island dispute with China. It is based on the view that Japan's main opposition -- the conservative Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) -- is likely to take power in an election in the coming months and that it would be receptive to his hard-line policies, two officials close to Ishihara said.

Akiko Santo, a member of the House of Councillors from the LDP, said Ishihara would try to win support from a new government to use about $19 million he has raised from contributors to build some basic infrastructure on the islands.

Ishihara's deputy, Naoki Inose, has confirmed the plan.

They claim that construction of a lighthouse, radio transmitter or basic harbor facilities would increase safety for Japanese fishermen. It was not clear how -- or even whether -- such private funds could be used for construction on government property.

[...]

Narushige Michishita, an associate professor at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies in Tokyo, said Ishihara's push could "re-create the situation we have just gone through -- strong reaction from China followed by demonstrations and attacks on Japanese companies."

More.

[yanpa]

Thank fuck the national government bought the islands first.

Now, maybe they could us that $19 million to build a mausoleum for Blinky

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

Just when you think the situation could not become worse...

Wanna know the second scariest aspect of this cunt's actions?....They almost invariably occur without rebuke, regardless of however reckless, irrational and damaging they are.
Wanna know the scariest aspect of this cunt's actions?....The reason for the above is that an extremely large proportion of Japanese agree with, and support, him.

[Coligny]

Just when you think the situation could not become worse...

Wanna know the second scariest aspect of this cunt's actions?....They almost invariably occur without rebuke, regardless of however reckless, irrational and damaging they are.
Wanna know the scariest aspect of this cunt's actions?....The reason for the above is that an extremely large proportion of Japanese agree with, and support, him.

Will make it sort of difficult to feel sad when they Tokyo get n00ked...

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

Will make it sort of difficult to feel sad when they Tokyo get n00ked...

He won't be able to go that far....but I'm sure the Chinese will remember these little taunts when they retake their Japanese colony.

[Russell]

Will make it sort of difficult to feel sad when they Tokyo get n00ked...

He won't be able to go that far....but I'm sure the Chinese will remember these little taunts when they retake their Japanese colony.

Somehow it appears that the actions of Blinky only makes it more likely that the Senkakus fall into Chinese hands. If that happens, he could always try to buy them from China...

[matsuki]

Well lets talk about Australia... give it back to the original inhabitants who share common DNA ancestry with the Chinese. So, it seems that China might want to claim Australia as well.

However, with the recent mining sales, they have nearly bought it all anyway and shipped it back as copper, iron ore etc.

Along those lines, the Navajo reservation,already the largest in the US and larger than many US states and other countries(It's almost the size of South Korea), could be expanded to the original territory, which would probably triple it's size...



...but honestly, I'd just settle for making it the 52nd state so it actually shows up on maps

[FG Lurker]

Nicholas Kristof (New York Times) chimes in, and the Consulate General of Japan in New York responds in the comments.
http://kristof.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/19/the-inconvenient-truth-behind-the-diaoyusenkaku-islands/

The Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands: A Japanese Scholar Responds
NY Times Opinion Pages, October 4, 2012

I recently posted a commentary by Han-Yi Shaw, a scholar from Taiwan, arguing that Japan in effect stole the Diaoyu/Senkaku islands from China in 1895 as the spoils of war. I invited Japanese scholars to make the opposing case, and I am happy to post a response from Takayuki Nishi, an Assistant Professor at the Global Regional Center of Shizuoka Prefectural University. As always, I welcome your comments and feedback. -- Nicholas Kristof

The People's Republic of China's claim that the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands are an "inherent territory" of China contradicts its own demands before 1970.

(Full Story)

Interesting. Very interesting indeed.

[IparryU]

Well lets talk about Australia... give it back to the original inhabitants who share common DNA ancestry with the Chinese. So, it seems that China might want to claim Australia as well.

However, with the recent mining sales, they have nearly bought it all anyway and shipped it back as copper, iron ore etc.

Along those lines, the Navajo reservation,already the largest in the US and larger than many US states and other countries(It's almost the size of South Korea), could be expanded to the original territory, which would probably triple it's size...



...but honestly, I'd just settle for making it the 52nd state so it actually shows up on maps

Im down for that!

my grandma's family owns over 500 acres of land... and that is Navajo territory we could add to the map!

[Russell]

Nicholas Kristof (New York Times) chimes in, and the Consulate General of Japan in New York responds in the comments.
http://kristof.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/19/the-inconvenient-truth-behind-the-diaoyusenkaku-islands/

The Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands: A Japanese Scholar Responds
NY Times Opinion Pages, October 4, 2012

I recently posted a commentary by Han-Yi Shaw, a scholar from Taiwan, arguing that Japan in effect stole the Diaoyu/Senkaku islands from China in 1895 as the spoils of war. I invited Japanese scholars to make the opposing case, and I am happy to post a response from Takayuki Nishi, an Assistant Professor at the Global Regional Center of Shizuoka Prefectural University. As always, I welcome your comments and feedback. -- Nicholas Kristof

The People's Republic of China's claim that the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands are an "inherent territory" of China contradicts its own demands before 1970.

(Full Story)

Interesting. Very interesting indeed.

Though I think Japan has a strong case under International Law, I find this reply from Nishi severely lacking.
First of all, he is apparently unaware that the NYT is a court of public opinion, not the court of law. What a fornicating PR disaster.
Second, his response gives the impression that Japan's position is mainly based on a 1953 commie newspaper article, which makes his argument less convincing. He could have done better. This is a missed opportunity.

[FG Lurker]

Though I think Japan has a strong case under International Law, I find this reply from Nishi severely lacking.
First of all, he is apparently unaware that the NYT is a court of public opinion, not the court of law. What a fornicating PR disaster.
Second, his response gives the impression that Japan's position is mainly based on a 1953 commie newspaper article, which makes his argument less convincing. He could have done better. This is a missed opportunity.

I disagree. I think he made his point in a concise way that there is no real counter-argument for.

[Russell]

'Food terrorism' a new concern in China-Japan rift

In a matter of weeks from mid-September, Japan-China relations have chilled to a level not seen in recent memory.

“In China, Japanese nationals have been singled out for attacks, such as the hot broth from a bowl of noodles being flung on a Japanese customer, or a man assaulted on the street in Hong Kong,” a Japanese exchange student in China tells Shukan Jitsuwa (Oct 18).

“There’s also been rumors going around that Japanese women in China were raped. Everybody’s terrified that sooner or later one of these rumors will prove to be true.”

With some Japanese in China afraid to go out in public, another concern has surfaced: that something will happen in Japan as well.

“It’s ‘food terrorism,’” says a source employed by one of Japan’s security agencies. “Concerns have surfaced that the incident of poisoned ‘gyoza’ (pot-sticker dumplings) will be repeated. The existence has been confirmed of Chinese terrorists who may be plotting to lace food imports bound for Japan with poison, moved by the slogan ‘Ai guo wu sui’ (no guilt for criminal acts perpetuated in the name of patriotism).”

The previous incident dates back four years, when 10 Japanese children and adults who had consumed frozen gyoza produced by Tenyo Shokuhin in China and sold through a cooperative in Japan reported symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea. Fortunately there were no fatalities.

It was determined that the gyoza had been laced with an agricultural pesticide.

“Initially when the news broke, China tried to avoid any responsibility, insisting that the poison had been added after the food arrived in Japan,” says a source described as an “Foreign Ministry agent.” “Several months later, however, similar reports of poisoning occurred in China, and the police, who were concerned over protests, announced they’d arrested a temporary worker at Tenyo Shokuhin, who had poisoned the gyoza out of dissatisfaction over wages. The incident was reported in China via the Internet and in newspapers, so Chinese are well aware of what happened.”

But now Japan’s security apparatus is concerned that terrorists with “patriotic” motives will adopt similar measures.

“We’ve also received data concerning this via the CIA,” says the aforementioned security source. “The plot involves a fanatical right-wing Chinese organization that is planning to pay some poor worker at a factory to poison food. In China now, the gap between rich and poor has widened remarkably and education in morals has been lacking. The data we’ve obtained appears to be highly accurate.”

About 60% of the vegetables, sea foods and other semi-processed and frozen foods imported into Japan are sourced from China. Over the last decade, the volume of imports have jumped fivefold.

“Gyoza are not the only item to be concerned about,” says a journalist covering foreign affairs. “Japan imports ‘udon’ (a type of noodle), croquettes, rice pilaf dishes, hamburgers, cutlets and so on. Likewise for frozen vegetables—there are potatoes, ‘edamame’ (unshelled soya beans), string beans, spinach, corn, broccoli, mixed vegetables and so on. Japan is dependent on China for over half the vegetables on its dining tables. It’s occurred to practically anybody that workers, either through bribery or acting out of a sense of righteous resentment are capable of poisoning a batch.

“Should such a thing occur,” he adds, “panic would break out in Japan. The controversy over the Senkakus would disappear.”

“The Noda-led government has no ability to contain the present situation,” remarks the aforementioned security source. “The police and foreign ministry security groups and the special intelligence unit attached to the cabinet have been collating this data and issued warnings, but to be frank, it’s like trying to grab hold of a cloud—there are limits to what we can accomplish. All we can do is go on collecting the data.”

Despite possible blows to its trade, tourism and retail sectors, the magazine warns, Japan will need to maintain close vigilance for the duration.

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

Is that French for "I fart in your general direction"?

Je pète dans votre direction générale

[cstaylor]

'Food terrorism' a new concern in China-Japan rift

There's no reason for them to do that... the PRC just needs to be patient.

JA's stranglehold on Japanese agriculture has inflicted more "food terrorism" on Japan than China ever can.

[Russell]

China should remember no country is an island in a globalised world

Beijing's fight with Japan over the Senkaku islands could have worldwide ramifications.



There is no doubt that the row over a group of tiny islands in the East China Sea has sealed the deterioration in relations between China and Japan. The diplomatic spat over the Diaoyu/Senkaku islands, which sparked violent protests, with Japanese flags and factories burned, stunned Tokyo, and caused Japanese companies to consider scrapping investment plans in China. Why open a new factory, they ask, just for it to be firebombed or defaced while an acquiescent administration turns a blind eye?

Until recently the "one-plus-one" investment policy (for every factory built in Japan, companies also had to build one overseas) benefited China. But now insiders say firms will look to support growth in Indonesia, the Philippines or newly open Burma.

For the International Monetary Fund, which has taken its annual meeting to the Japanese capital for the first time since 1964, the dispute is one of many linked to slowing growth and a rise in protectionism.

This week's meeting was scheduled for Cairo, until the Arab spring made the region look too unstable for a gathering of finance ministers and global institutions. But with Chinese frigates circling the disputed islands and pleas for calm going unheeded, Tokyo's political situation is closer to Cairo's than the IMF expected.

China's leaders are undoubtedly under pressure. Growth has slowed from more than 10% to less than 8% over the past two years, but its rising population means that growth of between 6% and 7% is needed just to keep pace. In March, Beijing cut its growth target for the whole of 2012 to 7.5%. As any student of politics knows, a foreign dispute distracts attention from failing economic policies.

But opting for a short-term boost in domestic popularity over a deterioration in long-term relations with foreign investors looks to be a huge mistake by the Beijing authorities. And the IMF understands that this local dispute has much wider ramifications: after all, Japan is the world's third-largest economy and China, its second-biggest, accounts for about a fifth of the world's total economic output. Any slowdown is going to hamper a global recovery.

The Americans have already put the brakes on expansion in China, in reaction to general corruption and to the growing threat from intellectual property theft. European companies have also backed off, preferring to send in high-value goods made at home.

Japan's economy is not in great shape either. This year, colossal spending on imported gas and oil will send the balance of payments into reverse for only the second time in three decades. The yen is at a historic high against the dollar, making Japanese products expensive abroad, and the political situation remains unstable, with the Democratic party government able to push through a VAT rise only on a promise of early elections.

And let's not forget the eurozone crisis. That continues to provide plenty of food for thought for IMF officials, given the failure to deal with Spain's financial black hole and growing public unrest among southern Europe's increasingly desperate citizens.

Yet it is the Japan/China dispute that is worrying them most. Japan believes the Chinese are wilfully making trouble: it has stressed that it bought the islands earlier this year to keep them out of the hands of the mayor of Tokyo, a Boris Johnson-style character with a populist enmity towards the Chinese community in Japan.

Maybe Beijing thinks it can go it alone without Japanese investment. It would be wrong, and the decision could have implications for us all.

[yanpa]

Until recently the "one-plus-one" investment policy (for every factory built in Japan, companies also had to build one overseas)

What's this '"one-plus-one" investment policy'?

[Russell]

Until recently the "one-plus-one" investment policy (for every factory built in Japan, companies also had to build one overseas)

What's this '"one-plus-one" investment policy'?

It means that you get two factories for the price of one, and then subsequently get one destroyed through riots...