Geopolitics

I came across this video, via twitter, and was very impressed by what this guy had to say. Please, let us know what you think.

Link in case video display goes awry

China busts a move among Japan's southernmost islands

Japantimes. 

Along with the new zone, the Chinese ministry released a set of aircraft identification rules that it says must be followed by all aircraft entering the area, under penalty of intervention by China’s military.

Aircraft are now expected to provide their flight path, clearly mark their nationality and maintain two-way radio communication in order to “respond in a timely and accurate manner to identification inquiries” from Chinese authorities.

In Tokyo, Junichi Ihara, head of the Foreign Ministry’s Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau was quoted as telling Han that Japan can “never accept the zone set up by China,” as it includes the Senkakus. He further said the new zone will “escalate” already fraught bilateral ties over the uninhabited but potentially resource-rich islet chain, branding China’s move “very dangerous,” the statement said.

“China will take timely measures to deal with air threats and unidentified flying objects from the sea, including identification, monitoring, control and disposition, and it hopes all relevant sides positively cooperate and jointly maintain flying safety,” Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Yang Yujun  said.

Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Yang Yujun 

Comments, a sampling:

PTM123 • 10 hours ago
This is the natural result of a political vacuum created by the decline of American influence in the world. The chance of war increases in Asia and the Middle East. We all know who is responsible.

Gen Eral • 17 hours ago
Why in the hell does China think they own these Japanese Islands, Taiwan etc? If they want to go back in history - then Mongolia should be in control of China. Those greedy Chinese are never satisfied. Ever heard of a Chinese philanthropist? There is no such thing.

Guest • 20 hours ago
President Obama's primary objective is to destroy Republicans at home, not to resist aggression overseas. The Chinese have taken the measure of the man.

Carl • 20 hours ago
Where did this article get linked in, to attract all these militaristic nuts?

Brian9999 • 20 hours ago
The US has been rendered impotent. Sorry Japan, our stanch ally; China now owns us and we must march to their command.

Silly commenters. The first minute of research tells you what is going on, even the flakiest untrustworthy of sources provides significant clues.

Wikipedia:  

The Japanese central government formally annexed the islands on 14 January 1895, naming them Senkaku, or “Pinnacled Pavilions.” Around 1900, Japanese entrepreneur Koga Tatsushirō constructed a bonito fish processing plant on the islands, employing over 200 workers.

Bonito!

That is used to make katsuobushi, for dashi, Japanese seafood broth. Dried skipjack tuna, shaved to flakes veritably dissolve in hot water along with kombu seaweed, together as a hot steeped tea. It is the best seafood broth available. Honestly. I tried different fish broths for bouillabaisse by way of experimentation and kombu bonito dashi wins hands down. Wins. Totally wins all over the place.When it comes to seafood, Japan kicks butt on everyone else. It tastes like the ocean, except a lot better than that.

The business failed :-( 

But all of that is irrelevant to current affairs.

The islands came under US government occupation in 1945 after the surrender of Japan ended World War II. In 1969, the United Nations Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East (ECAFE) identified potential oil and gas reserves in the vicinity of the Senkaku Islands.In 1971, the Okinawa Reversion Treaty passed the U.S. Senate, returning the islands to Japanese control in 1972. Also in 1972, the Taiwanese and Chinese governments officially began to declare ownership of the islands.

There you go. 

That and the islands are awfully close to China.

But, boy, do they ever get a lot of Japanese visitors. It's like the swimming pig island in the Bahamas people go there for the oddity of it.

This whole time I was visualizing Northern islands not Southern islands even though the story says East China Sea.