World View: China Sends Warships in Brewing Confrontation with Japan

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 fourthday on Friday, but the promised “million man march” in Cairo Egyptfizzled for the most part, although a smaller demonstration continues.There were small demonstrations throughout the Mideast, but theattacks 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 Germanflag and raised an Islamist banner. In Tunis, at least two peoplewere killed and 29 others were wounded on Friday when police foughthundreds of protesters who ransacked the U.S. embassy. Hundreds ofprotesters wielding petrol bombs, stones and sticks had charged at thesecurity forces protecting the embassy before jumping a wall to invadethe compound. “Obama, Obama, we are all Osamas,” they chanted. Theypulled down the U.S. flag flying over the embassy, burned it, andreplaced it with a black flag emblazoned with the Shahada, the Islamicdeclaration 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 islandsfrom a family that it recognizes as the owner. The islands aredisputed by China, and the purpose of the purchase was to head offsome highly nationalistic actions by the Mayor of Tokyo that thefederal government. However, the Chinese viewed this as a sign ofweakness, and sent six warships to the islands. The Foreign Ministryissued a statement:

Two Chinese surveillance ship fleets have arrived atwaters around the Diaoyu Islands and adjacent islands on September14, 2012, to start patrol and law enforcement. These lawenforcement and patrol activities are designed to demonstrateChina’s jurisdiction over the islands and safeguard its maritimeinterests.

Japan’s Foreign Minister said, “I’d like to underscore that we shouldnever let the situation escalate. We have strong hopes the Chinesegovernment will respond to the situation in an appropriate and also acalm manner.”

This is probably a good time to remind readers that the Senkaku/Diaoyuare considered Japanese territory under the mutual defense treaty thatthe United States and Japan signed in 1960. Under the terms of thetreaty, we’re obligated to go to war with China to defend the islandsif 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 theSenkaku/Diaoyu islands, and are expected to increase in the next fewdays. September 18 marks the 81st anniversary of the brutal Japaneseoccupation of China, a memory that still evokes xenophobic reactionsin China. The Hindu

Chinese expats in Athens Greece protest against Japan

The confrontation between China and Japan over the Senkaku/Diaoyuislands has spread to Greece. About 200 members of the Chinesecommunity in Greece gathered outside the Japanese embassy building,raising banners and placards in Chinese, English and Greek saying,territory Diaoyu Islands.” Xinhua

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