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Senkaku

China’s “Prepare for War” Orders Unsettling in Japan

With the transfer of power occurring in China, it’s only natural for new policies to be put into effect either for the improvement of society or for purely superficial demonstrations of power to both domestic and international rivals.

Currently a lot is being made on online message boards of reports coming from Chinese media outlining new orders for 2013 which apply to all branches of the People’s Liberation Army. Some Japanese media outlets have been interpreting these orders as “prepare for war… presumably against Japan.”

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Inconsistent with Current Claim, Chinese Diplomatic Document from 1950 Clearly States Senkaku Islands Are Part of Okinawa


In an interview with well-informed sources on December 28, Japanese newspaper Sankei Shimbun discovered Chinese diplomatic papers created in 1950 used the Japanese name Senkaku to identify the Japanese-controlled islands in the East China Sea. The same document also contained language recognizing the Senkakus as a part of Okinawa.

Currently China claims the islands are its territory as “a part of Taiwan.” Recognition by China in 1950 that the islands are a part of Okinawa is contradictory to its current claim and weakens the foundation of its present position.
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Senkakuwha? Chinese People May Have More Pressing Beefs with Japan than Some Empty Islands

Looking back at the violence that occurred in the anti-Japan protests in September, I’m still baffled at why those regular people got so crazy over a land dispute between two governments in some remote area.  Maybe I’m the only one who lacks that patriotic spirit that compels one set fire to a factory over zoning issues.

Or perhaps like almost every world event in history, there are more complex – usually economic – factors at play beneath the surface. At least that’s what a group of Japanese writers and journalists claim.  According to them, the stage was set for this explosion of anger years before it happened.

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Underequipped Family Climbs Mount Fuji to Promote Chinese Patriotism, Given Clothes by Japanese Person

A well-known Chinese writer with some controversial views on education got into dire straits in September after attempting to climb Mount Fuji with his children.  The purpose of the climb was a combination of a strict education regiment and as a way to promote Chinese patriotism.

Unaware that the climbing season ended at the end of August, they were turned back short of the summit, but not before being given extra clothing by a Japanese first aid officer.

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China’s Superpower Status Upgraded from “Potential” to “Beginning” by Own Media

Despite China’s booming development in recent years, their media has been reluctant to toot their own patriotic horn and limited themselves to phrases like “potential superpower”.

It looks like the kid gloves are off now though, as South China Post kicked off the newest nickname for the PRC, “beginning superpower” last week.  This follows a busy summer of superpower-like imposition and disregard for neighboring countries all along the nation’s coasts.

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Chinese Trio Dress Up Like Japanese People and “Apologize” to Buddha Over Senkaku Islands

In a refreshingly mellow demonstration held on 23 September in Lushan County, Henan 3 people donned Japanese style costumes and silently knelt in front of the Spring Temple Buddha.

Kneeling side by side the two men and one woman held up a banner reading “Daiyou Islands [Chinese name for Senkaku Islands] belong to China.” with a picture of one of the disputed islands and a ridiculously enormous Chinese flag flying above it.

And you know, in spite of all this I’m not entirely sure they are supporting China.

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Anti-Japan Protests In China: Scenes of Senselessness

This weekend Japanese (and other) businesses in China have been the victims of a spate of arson attacks as well as vandalism and looting as anti-Japan protests have escalated to record levels since Japan and China established diplomatic ties in 1972.

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Innocent VIctim of Anti-Japan Protests in China? Or Did She Have It Coming?

As you may already know, every summer, coinciding with the anniversary of the end of World War 2, bickering of one kind or another occurs between China (and Korea) and Japan. This year, things seemed to escalate with some provocative statements by Tokyo’s governor. More recently, some activists from China traveled and tried to stage some kind of sit-in on said islands. And now, to take things further, anti-Japan protests in China have become violent.

The woman pictured above in tears was at the site of one of these protests. What happened to her? Did she do anything wrong? Read More