This could generate more tension in an area that's already tense enough.

QuoteAbout 50 Taiwanese vessels on Tuesday entered waters near a group of uninhabited islands at the center of a bitter territorial dispute involving Japan, China and Taiwan.

Japanese public broadcaster NHK showed footage of a Japanese coast guard ship shooting water at a Taiwanese fishing boat, while a Taiwanese patrol vessel blasted water at the coast guard ship in reply during an incident near the disputed Senkaku or Diaoyu islands, as they are known respectively in Japan and China/Taiwan.


The Taiwanese vessels – 40 fishing boats and 10 coast guard ships – entered the waters to protest the recent Japanese government's purchase of the islands from a private owner.

Link: http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/09/25/14087094-taiwanese-ships-clash-with-japanese-coast-guard-over-disputed-islands?lite

Japan has been going through years of political and economic crisis, so could this move on the islands be an attempt to whip up national pride? I know the Chinese got worked up over this, and I can't exactly say I blame them, what with the memories of WWII.

Or is it the other way around, China has more than enough money, they could have easily out bid Japan, or is China looking for something to unite the people against?

Things are far more precarious in China than Japan, much like the Dim party, they too have to work to keep all the freaks in line and from attacking each other, and a common enemy is always the perfect distraction.

Quote from: Solar on September 25, 2012, 07:19:11 AM
Or is it the other way around, China has more than enough money, they could have easily out bid Japan, or is China looking for something to unite the people against?

Things are far more precarious in China than Japan, much like the Dim party, they too have to work to keep all the freaks in line and from attacking each other, and a common enemy is always the perfect distraction.

I hadn't considered China using this. Of course China has had some political infighting recently, so this could well be the case.

Either way, I get the slightest feeling this will all impact dealings with North Korea.

Quote from: CubaLibre on September 25, 2012, 07:27:31 AM
I hadn't considered China using this. Of course China has had some political infighting recently, so this could well be the case.

Either way, I get the slightest feeling this will all impact dealings with North Korea.

I just hope we let them work it out and stay out of it, there will be no winner in this, until one party backs down.

Looks like a squirt gun fight over food to me.

I'd suggest that all of those countries get together and start implementing sustainable fishing practices. Once there's no more fish, people will get hungry, and the real guns will come out.