The Chinese Ambassador to Japan warned that Beijing would not concede on the demand or relinquish their sovereignty over the South China Sea even if it meant the two countries went to war.
Japan will “cross a red line” if SDF vessels take part in the freedom of navigation operations, Chinese Ambassador Cheng Yonghua conveyed to Tokyo at the time. Cheng threatened military action if Japan failed to comply with the ultimatum.…Are those war drums I hear in the background?
Sputnik International
South China Sea Time Bomb: Beijing Sets "Red Line" on Japan-US Joint Operations
7 comments:
Why only Japan? If this warning is to be taken seriously, issue it to both participants.
The US is not claiming any of the islands of the South China Sea. China and Japan have counterclaims as do Japan and Russia in the north. There's a lot of disputed territory there, and, of course, the US is backing its allies in the region.
Longstanding territorial disputes are not worrisome, unless there is a plan to use it as a pretext for something more ominous. For example, Japanese commandos making a surprise landing in the Kurils!
Looks to be just more posturing.
These countries take these islands very seriously as a matter of national sovereignty. It's not far-fetched that a war could start over them. It's crazy maybe, but that's the way the world works.
Well for now the only scheduled events are "naval exercises".
There are three states, 1) situation stable, 2) escalating, or 3) de-escalating. This looks like the initial stage of escalation. So far, only the US has escalated militarily is a significant way. China has responded with some escalation but not proportional yet. Japan escalating militarily would be a significant increase in escalation given the Sino-Japanese War and Japanese occupation prior to and during WWII, which China is still enraged about given Japanese lack of contrition and continuing official honoring of war death including war criminals.
These kinds of issues persist in Europe too.
Americans are blissfully ignorant of this, however.
I did read something along the lines of Japan about to build up their military, and the emperor making comments that warn against it. Probably an article at WSWS.
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