Dispute over the Senkaku Island with Japan
Jacky Huang | August 23rd, 2012
The Global Times, one of the top Chinese party newspapers issued an editorial yesterday saying China is prepared for military attack because the dispute over the Senkaku Island with Japan has become an irreconcilable conflict.
This incident started about a week ago when 14 Chinese people landed on the island and were all arrested and detained by Japan’s Self Defense Forces. Under the pressure of millions of angry people, Chinese government expressed strong opposition to Japan. The 14 people were released afterwards. But the on Aug 18, about 150 Japanese right-wing activists went to the island for worship without permission and ten of them landed.
This incident then escalated when the US joined the military dill with Japan. According to People’ Daily, the no.1 Chinese party newspaper, the drill is a bad strategy. It means to irritate China but also shows lack of confidence. The newspaper also said directly that the US and Japan underestimated the firm will of China to Maintenance the territorial sovereignty.These years, along with the rise of its economy, the political weakness is still a problem in China, which can easily be used by countries like Japan. This time China wants to be strong in this dispute because the signal is going to spread to South China Sea where dispute over several island is still going on with Vietnam and the Philippines. And Chinese government is concerning more of the voice in the country than abroad.
The editorial said that it is impossible for Chinese government to control the situation anymore. Otherwise it will cause a devastating loss to government’s prestige and the unity in the country, although agreeing to the public and preparing military attack may have some risks. Chinese people demand that government should go to the areas – 12 sea miles around Senkaku island and should have the ability to arrest Japanese activists who wish to land on the island. However, on the Japanese side, The National Police Agency of Japan announced they will sue any Chinese who wishes to land on the island again.
But according to Global Times, the threat cannot hold them back because some activists in China are preparing to do it again. The threat indicated a new escalation on this issue.Morimoto, The head of National Police Agency of Japan said Japan’s Self Defense Forces will not allow foreign ships to come close for even one million meter. They will reinforce the combat ability along the south coast especially some islands.But the editorial said at last that although there’s a big tension between these two countries, this conflict will stop in a degree as long as two parties have no intensions to go to war.
