This morning's key headlines from
GenerationalDynamics.com:
- Egypt's 'million man march' fizzles as protesters attack in Sudan and Tunisia
- Japan/China confrontation brews as China sends warships to Senkaku islands
- Attacks on Japanese in Beijing increase as September 18 approaches
- Chinese expats in Athens Greece protest against Japan
Egypt's 'million man march' fizzles as protesters attack in Sudan and Tunisia
Arab protests at U.S. embassies in the Mideast continued for a fourth
day on Friday, but the promised "million man march" in Cairo Egypt
fizzled for the most part, although a smaller demonstration continues.
There were small demonstrations throughout the Mideast, but the
attacks in Sudan and Nigeria were more significant. In Khartoum,
angry protesters attacked the British and German Embassies on Friday,
setting fire to parts of the buildings. They also tore down the German
flag and raised an Islamist banner. In Tunis, at least two people
were killed and 29 others were wounded on Friday when police fought
hundreds of protesters who ransacked the U.S. embassy. Hundreds of
protesters wielding petrol bombs, stones and sticks had charged at the
security forces protecting the embassy before jumping a wall to invade
the compound. "Obama, Obama, we are all Osamas," they chanted. They
pulled down the U.S. flag flying over the embassy, burned it, and
replaced it with a black flag emblazoned with the Shahada, the Islamic
declaration of faith. The Sun (London) and Spiegel and Reuters
Japan/China confrontation brews as China sends warships to Senkaku islands
Last week, Japan's government "purchased" the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands
from a family that it recognizes as the owner. The islands are
disputed by China, and the purpose of the purchase was to head off
some highly nationalistic actions by the Mayor of Tokyo that the
federal government. However, the Chinese viewed this as a sign of
weakness, and sent six warships to the islands. The Foreign Ministry
issued a statement:
Two Chinese surveillance ship fleets have arrived at
waters around the Diaoyu Islands and adjacent islands on September
14, 2012, to start patrol and law enforcement. These law
enforcement and patrol activities are designed to demonstrate
China’s jurisdiction over the islands and safeguard its maritime
interests.
Japan's Foreign Minister said, "I’d like to underscore that we should
never let the situation escalate. We have strong hopes the Chinese
government will respond to the situation in an appropriate and also a
calm manner."
This is probably a good time to remind readers that the Senkaku/Diaoyu
are considered Japanese territory under the mutual defense treaty that
the United States and Japan signed in 1960. Under the terms of the
treaty, we're obligated to go to war with China to defend the islands
if China attacks them. AFP and Xinhua
Attacks on Japanese in Beijing increase as September 18 approaches
In Beijing, at least six Japanese were reported to have been attacked.
In Shanghai, one man was injured when hot noodles were poured on him.
The attacks were triggered by the confrontation over the
Senkaku/Diaoyu islands, and are expected to increase in the next few
days. September 18 marks the 81st anniversary of the brutal Japanese
occupation of China, a memory that still evokes xenophobic reactions
in China. The Hindu
Chinese expats in Athens Greece protest against Japan
The confrontation between China and Japan over the Senkaku/Diaoyu
islands has spread to Greece. About 200 members of the Chinese
community in Greece gathered outside the Japanese embassy building,
raising banners and placards in Chinese, English and Greek saying,
"Chinese expats in Greece firmly oppose Japanese occupation to Chinese
territory Diaoyu Islands." Xinhua
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