China demanded Thursday that Japan stop its exploration for natural gas in a disputed area of the East China Sea.
Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi summoned Japan's ambassador and delivered an official protest after exploration began Wednesday northwest of Okinawa Island, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.

"China urges the Japanese side to . . . immediately stop the act that infringed upon China's interests and sovereignty," Xinhua paraphrased Wang as telling Ambassador Koreshige Anami.

The U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea allows coastal countries an economic zone extending 200 nautical miles (370 km) from their shores.

But Beijing and Tokyo, both of which signed the convention in 1996, have not agreed where their sea border lies. The U.N. says it will decide on global offshore territorial claims by May 2009.

Wang told Anami that "China cannot tolerate Japan's move imposed upon others and firmly opposes the dangerous provocative act," Xinhua reported. Wang called on Japan to negotiate a settlement instead of acting unilaterally, the report said.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getart...n20040709a1.htm

lol, now im waiting for barker to reply. lol

Provocative? Looks like they learned a new word.

Honestly, why can't Japan just stand up for itself toward the Chinese, or the Koreans, for that matter. Next time China sends its communist protestors to a protested island, Japan should summon the ambassador and claim the action as "provocative" as well.

I can't believe the Chinese are claiming disputed territories as their own! That makes absolutely no sense! As the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea states, Japan has rights to the sea that is 200 nautical miles offshore. We didn't violate that. Sadly, there are places between China and Japan that overlap and that haven't been officially decided yet. That does not mean that it is China's and CHina has no right to officially complain to Japan over undefined territories! This is a ridiculous story considering the Chinese infringe on Japanese waters that AREN'T disputed.

If this is provocative, what do you call the invasion of the Paracel Islands and Spratley Islands? The Chinese are a bunch of hypocrites.

okay, Nam, im a hyprocrite then. thanks, im sure your above us all.

Territorial claims in the UN have to be cleared up by the UN. Now, if it is not ruled in our favour, we will prolly just sit quiet and do everything that is asked of us. but, if the un decides in our favor, south korea and china will begin their 'shows.

I don't believe that we should listen to the un. That area is ours not china's. They do not need anymore. We need to hold onto every piece of land that we have.

Indeed we do, but could Japan beat China in an armed conflict? Or what would occur?

In conventional naval warfare yes. There is no doubt in my head. However a conflict with china would result in the destruction of the japanese race. We are powerless against their nuclear arsonal. This is one of the main reasons I want WMD for japan. Even if we had Nuclear weapons japan would still be defeated by the chinese. However if we would perhaps be able to strike and take them to hell along with us. Rule one of nuclear war: Don't do it.

Hehe. Do you think that the Koreans could defeat us in the same or similar way?

In conventional war? The south koreans would hurt japan and are definately a threat. However they would be defeated. In anycase they dont matter because they are not the ones that thirst for japanese blood like their northern brothers. I doubt that their army would ever even have a chance against the JSDF. Japan would not be destroyed by the north koreans now I don't think. However there would be millions of lives lost. Why? Japan is a congest country. Too many people living in small areas.

Of course if we had WMD I don't think that japan would ever be attacked by china and north korea would become much less arrogant and more reluctant to fu-k with japanese people like they are doing.

Indeed. Its sad. Especially when the Koreans destroyed our naval ship in 1954 in Takeshima, it was actually sad, how ten years ago, Japan had one of the best navies in the world, and ten years later we lost.

doubt that their army would ever even have a chance against the JSDF

is 'their' north or south?

Japan must return to the days of naval glory or else we wont have a chance against our neighbors in the end. You see japan is a nation surrounded by water. If we can keep them the hell away no harm will be done to our population. We have ships that can be turned into carriers in a short time...however japan needs her super carriers for power projection into the surrounding areas. I believe that we should also form a pacific naval coalition with the neighboring island countries.

By the way the south koreans got that ship out of surprise. It was completely unexpected that they would use lethal fforce. Otherwise do you think that battle ship would not have opened fire and killed them? I certainly think so. You must remember though that the SK attacked that ship in self defense. I would expect our people to destroy a south korean ship if it got too close as well. I am no hypocrit in that sense. In anycase as I mentioned the south koreans are not our enemy....yet. When they begin to harm japanese people and make ridiculous threats like north korea then they are the enemy. They are not doing that now do not forget that.


Yes "their" is the north.

NATURALLY.

By those other Asian nations, do you basically mean Taiwan and the Phillipines?

Taiwan? No no no. As much as I would LOVE to have taiwan as japan's number one ally in the pacific. The chinese are amping themselves up to retake their island. Now china is stronger than japan at the moment for the reasons I mentioned previously. I don't see taiwan as important enough to lose japanese lives over. That would just be a mess. Now the phillipines, indonesia, malaysia and singapore and even australia we should try to work out a agreement. The coalition will of course be lead by the japanese.

That sounds good. I mean, why does Japan have to pay attention to what China and South Korea say? We can't go to our shrines and temples, we can't speak freely about our past, etc. Why can't we just stand up to them and tell them to mind their own business?

Indeed, Taiwan should be though. If things become stabler there, should we ally ourselves with Taiwan?

Then start praying that China does not claim back Taiwan.

Indeed. Taiwan would put up quite a fight though. They have a very trained military.

We should listen to what they say on certain issues and take into account. However this excludes military issues. We should not listen to any of their fears. Why? In 1964 japan complained to china about it's nuclear weapons program. Our complaints were completely ignored. Now I don't have a problem with china having nukes. However japan needs the same and a offensive capability navy and air force to secure our position in the pacific.



We cando anything we want. The proper question is this...is it worth it? I don't think so. In my personal opinion these places should not be visited by government officials simply because it gives our friendly neighbors ammunition to use against us. I feel that these places should be off limits.



Well for the most part japan should do what china and north/south korea are doing. Then if an objection comes up we can always say "you are doing the same thing. When you stop we will consider". Or something like that.



I don't care how tough taiwan is. We ally ourselves with them it's a reason for china to bring the next nagasaki. We don't give them that advantage. We can treat taiwan like another country however we don't support them militarily. I like taiwan too but not that much.

Taiwan really wanted us to be allies but recently Japan has been putting distance between us and them more and more. Japan fears China and also fears America. America's policy is pro-China (but secretly believes: help Taiwan if it is attacked). Japan has to agree with America always, and cannot publicly support Taiwan.

On the other topic you two are disputing: Japan should be allowed to visit whatever shrine we want. It is OUR culture and it is OUR leaders and OUR land. Why do we have to listen to other countries telling us that we can't follow OUR traditions? That makes no sense. They are trying to destroy Japan. I think that listening to them just to appease them is just as bad as Neville Chamberlain appeasing Hitler.

They are trying to destroy Japan.

Japanese of inferior minds are the ones allowing those who are inherently evil to destroy our nation and people. The japanese government is the biggest threat to japan.

HEH, Japan should be the last nation who should tutor China to respect its territoriies.

Which nation invaded entire Asia, invaded and Occupied their "Asian Brothers"

and took over China, Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, THailand, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Manchuria, Indonesia, Burma, India, and Many other nations?

After the establishment of the UN, Japan has followed every law that it has created. Japan has been following ethical conduct ever since the new government was formed.

On the other hand, China has killed its own people, lied to its own people, maintains a large standing army, funds weapons in great amounts using Japanese development aid, holds nuclear weapons, does not give proper education to its people, denies citizens of their basic human rights, and not only do Chinese people suffer because they live in China, but other countries that surround it are suffering too. China sends out its criminals to other countries and refuses to take them back so that other countries could deal with them. China infringes other nations territories for the reason that the land USED TO BE theirs. China threatens their neighboring democracy Taiwan with force. China supported North Korea during the Korean War and fought against American democracy. China continues to be the biggest threat to the world.

Yep, That is why China isn't labeled as "Axis of Evil" by President Bush like Iran, Iraq, and North Korea.

Japan invades entire Asia, commits Warcrimes beyound imaginations, short little dwarf Japanese infantrymen Raping unarmed young, elderly, and children Chinese womens. How sick can your nation be?

Japan didn't even sign the Geneva Convention, with gives fair treatments to Prisoner of War, and stops production and research in Biological and Chemical weapons. Japan tested Biochemical weapons on LIVE HUMANS, How sick can your nation be? How can you kill 30 million Chinese people? You can't even defeat a Nation who is in TOtal chaos, Full scale Civil War, WeaK Chinese armies, with pitchforks and sticks. How pathetic is that?

UN? China is a Pernament UN member, Of course China is a has good conducts.

HAHAHHAHHAHAHA.

If you are talking about a naval battle with China TODAY, then I might agree with you. However, I doubt a large scale war would break out between Japan and China any time soon. If modernization efforts continue as planned, the PLA will easily surpass the militaries of most first world countries. And by 2020, the PLA will be able to challenge the might of the American military as an equal adversary.

WMD? For Japan?!?! HAHA, the Chinese people would be caught DEAD before we allow Japan to rearm itself with WMD.

The CCP is appeasing Japan these days mainly because we want to focus on economic development first. And it's working, at the world's fastest pace.

Don't test our patience, because when we're modernized and developed...You just wait.

I agree.



Out of sheer size. I seriously doubt that the chinese weapons will be of as lethal quality as their western/westernized counterparts. Time will tell.



I strongly doubt that the chinese will be able to challenge america on equal terms in such a short time.



It really does not matter what china "allows". Japan simply needs to accquire atleast one hundred nuclear warheads to begin. Then a nuclear weapons program can be started. I doubt the chinese would do anything to stop us at that point. However when dealing with chinese people one can never be too careful.



Correct.



Happily.

what about all the natural resources Japanese took from china during ww2? haven't these japanese taken enough from china already? did your stupid UN state sea laws apply then? dumbass

Japan is no longer taking anything from china. It is the chinese that are possibly preparing to steal from what little resources japan has. One of the many reasons japan must fortify it's position against china.

these are unfounded allegations. why would china steal from japan? why?! give me one good reason why china would steal anything from japan? if they did they would be simply take what's theirs back to the homeland

"Japan is no longer taking anything from china."

wow, it sounds like taking from china was something japan was suppose to do. it's japane china needs to keep a close eye on and fortify themselves which is what they've been doing against the japanese aggressors.

China has rapidly become one of the world's top consumers of crude material.



Nothing in japanese territory belongs to your beloved china. China has claim to nothing that belongs to us. Is this the chinese mentality? This is the first time that I have ever heard anything as ridiculous as that.




Twist it into what ever you want to.



Japanese aggressors? What are you living in the 30s? Japan has done nothing to china since the greater east asia war. As I have mentioned japan cannot trust china. It is always the bigger and more powerful nation that harass the smaller one.

of course china is growing rapidly, that's a well known fact. but that gives no reason to 'steal' from their neighboring countries. unlike what japan did 50 years ago. and they are yet at it again.



incorrect. your denial of what was taken out of northern china by the japanese aggressor is sadly the basis of your flawed argument or your japanese mentality. if this is the first time you've heard of what the japanese stole from china, then i suggest you re-evaluate your account of history.



right, i've let your rant gone on for too long.




right, because japan lost their unjust war and therefore must suffer the concequences. i'm don't blame for japan not trusting china. the feeling is mutual. And i would like you to provide on instance, just one instance of china harassing 'smaller' countries in recent history.

Of course this is no reason to steal from your neighbor. However japan cannot be careful when dealing with china.



Explain. I can't wait to hear this.



I never denied that imperial japan stole from china in the past. Resources and laborors. I suppose that you can also include the attempted eradication of their culture as well. Anything I miss? By the way since you believe otherwise. What claim does china have to anything within our territory?




Tibet.

but why? you kept saying that japan can't not trust china, but you have not yet provided any evidence. and i'm curious as to if this mistrust if your personal feeling or japan's national agenda. if you are to mention this again, please tell me why japan does not trust china.


i read this article form cnn and according to them this part of the sea is still under dispute between china and japan. so natually no one should intrude upon it until matters are settled. yet japan made a unilateral decision to 'investigate' this area for potential drillings. you tell me if this is what a rational nation would do and is this not a form of 'invasion'



i'm so glad i can quote you on this, i'm sure you've missed a gazilion things from your list of what's missing. what i meant by 'what was taken' was not territorial, how can china physically removed land from japan, that's impossible. what i meant was what you've listed above, those things though happened many years ago didn't disappear into nothing, they've transformed and fueled the japanese economy til this day. if china were to run an account of what was missing and demand a retribution, i believe japan would go bankcrupted 100 folds over. i leave you with this, if we don't learn our mistakes form our history, it would be doomed to repeat itself.



another can of worms huh? let's open it. Tibetians was and has been under Chinese dynasties control many many many moons ago and it has always been a peaceful union until the 60s when tibetian seperatists wanted independence. like what all countries would do, military forces were used to restore normalcy to that part of china.

Oil? China has more oil reserves than United States, and Japan has no natural resources to speak of. Japan robbed and plurged Manchuria resources.

For the most part it is the increased chinese military spending that has them on edge these days. As you can imagine they are far from being elated about this in tokyo. In anycase their priority at the moment is still north korea.



This argueable. To me this situation is the same as the senkaku. Correct me if I am wrong but the chinese land or attempt to land on that rock because they believe it still belongs to them. Yet that place is also still disputed. Or are all of the landings so far been made by civilians? The japanese believe that this area is part of japan's territory. This is the reason for investigating it. Would you happen to have the article by the way?



Alright I can agree with you on this one.



Also agreed.



Tibet was indeed part of china for generations. However they received independence in the early 1900s from what I undestand. Later on communist china decided to retake tibet unwillingly. Correct me if I am wrong.

i appreciate your reply ogumo and it seems unfair that i do not disect your post this time as i've done eariler today. it's also appearent that we're now in an aggrement on some of the more important political issues, at least fundamentally.

i leave you once again with this, i personally fear that any type of military exercises is stemmed from fear itself. the fear of unknown or fear of extermination and destruction. to overcome this fear, we must love, respect and trust. dispite what has happened in the past, and now i'd like to repeast myself, if we don't learn from our past, our past will surely haunt us at the most critical of times. this goes to all nations. what i said so far is probably considered cliche in the minds of many. i sincerely beleive that our generation strives for peace and unity.

I sincerely hope so as well. Unfortunately I don't see this happening anytime soon. I believe that many simply give off the appearance of striving for peace and unity when all the while having ulterior motives. I suppose the only thing one can do is hope for the best.

i aggree with you to a certain extend.

we all have our reservations, but if we choose to live a closed, judgemental and pessimistic life, our nations would naturally conform to its citizen's mental health. it is all up to us to, not only revolutionize our way of thinking and living, we need to be reborned. how i wish...

timothy

world peace? hmm seems far fetched, the leader and wealthy will always boss the poor and weak countries around.

Rebellion and hatred will still continue to exist...its just a "cycle" of life I suppose.

again, if we choose to play their game, we will become products of our environment. we the people made this 'cycle of life' a reality, what if we choose to play differently?

Do Chinese people seriously believe all the BS that the Chinese propaganda ministries tell their citizens. Judging from the posts in this thread I seriously believe their is something wrong with Chinese education.

Just because Bush, the almighty harbinger of death, doesn't believe China is an axis of evil does not mean that China is the most dangerous country in the world. Bush thought that Iraq, which never had any WMDs, was a danger to the world. Bush didn't even recognize North Korea as a threat until much later. What Bush thinks doesn't mean anything.

Chinese government isn't a protector of anything. The Chinese government doesn't even care for its own people. Before you accuse Japan of being an evil nation, why don't you look at your own country:

Restrictions on Independent Organizing: Although the Chinese Constitution guarantees freedom of association and assembly, national regulations severely limit association and give the authorities absolute discretion to deny applications for public gatherings or demonstrations. In practice, only organizations that are approved by the authorities are permitted to exist, and any organization that is not registered is considered "illegal." In this manner, independent advocacy on labor, human rights, environmental, development or political issues is effectively outlawed. The CCP-controlled labor union and women and youth organizations are the only permitted avenues for organizing in these areas. Unofficial labor groups have been a particular target for suppression. In December 1994, the Beijing Intermediate People's Court imposed severe sentences of between 15 and 20 years' imprisonment on three prisoners of conscience, convicted of "leading counter-revolutionary organizations." The sentences, based on the defendants' alleged formation of non-government-approved organizations, were the harshest delivered to political dissidents in recent years.

On 4 June, 1994, the fifth anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown, China promulgated new implementing regulations for the 1993 State Security Law. The repressive new measures threaten the few legal means of operation left to democracy and human rights activists, independent religious adherents and other independent voices, by criminalizing: contact with and funding from foreign organizations defined as "hostile"; the publication or dissemination of "written or verbal speeches" or "using religion" to carry out activities "which endanger state security;" and the creation of "national disputes." The regulations also give state security officials virtually unlimited power to detain individuals, confiscate property and determine what constitutes a "hostile" organization.

Restrictions on Free Speech and the Media: Although the PRC's 1982 Constitution guarantees citizens freedom of expression and of the press, its preamble mandates adherence to "four basic principles"-- the CCP's leadership, socialism, dictatorship of the proletariat and Marxism-Leninism Mao Zedong Thought. In practice, the PRC employs a wide range of controls that violate the right to free expression and interfere with independent media. These include severe restrictions on contact between foreign news media and Chinese viewed by the government as critical of the regime. An extensive censorship bureaucracy licenses all media outlets and publishing houses and must approve all books before publication.

The primary mechanism of control over the news media and publishing is self-censorship. Chinese journalists, editors and publishers are expected to make the information they disseminate conform to CCP Propaganda Department guidelines. For example, news coverage is required to be "80% positive and 20% negative." Sanctions for infringements range from official criticism of the coverage to the demotion, firing or imprisonment of the individuals responsible and the closing or banning of the offending publication.

Dissidents who make their opinions known to the foreign media are often subject to threats, detention, harassment, intensive surveillance or imprisonment. During 1994, at least 20 Chinese writers, journalists, editors and publishers were persecuted in connection with their work. Also during the year, foreign correspondents from the British Broadcasting Corporation, Newsweek, Reuters, United Press International, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, U.S. television networks (NBC, CBS) and other foreign media outfits were detained and interrogated by PRC police regarding their work as journalists, including the interviewing of Chinese dissidents and students and filming in Tiananmen Square. Police also banned broadcasts of CNN in Beijing hotels for five days surrounding the fifth anniversary of the 4 June 1989 military crackdown on democracy demonstrators.

Torture of detainees is endemic in Chinese detention centers and prisons. Although China became party to the UN Convention Against Torture in 1988, the government has not taken effective measures to diminish the risk of prisoners being tortured or ill-treated. Despite strong evidence of torture in several cases of death in custody, state prosecutors have refused to release autopsy results to families or to initiate investigations. In many detention centers, beatings, inadequate food and poor hygiene appear to be a routine part of the process of eliciting confessions and compliance from detainees. Such treatment is applied to ordinary prisoners as well as political detainees.

According to prisoner reports, methods commonly used by guards include: beatings using electric batons; rubber truncheons on hands and feet; long periods in handcuffs and/or leg irons, often tightened so as to cause pain; restriction of food to starvation levels; and long periods in solitary confinement. Furthermore, corrupt authorities at detention centers, prisons and labor camps have extorted large sums of money from families of detainees for the state's provision of "daily supplies" and "medical expenses."

Despite continuing efforts by the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, the International Committee of the Red Cross and other humanitarian organizations, PRC officials have not agreed to allow open and unannounced visits to prisoners. PRC authorities acknowledge that there are some 1.2 million prisoners and detainees in China.

Few legal safeguards exist in China to ensure fair trials, and the judicial system is controlled at every level by CCP political-legal committees that may determine the outcome of cases before the court hears evidence presented at trial. Legal scholars within China have called for an end to this widespread practice of "verdict first, trial second." With the political-legal committees exercising extensive control, detainees are highly unlikely to receive fair, impartial hearings that are free from official manipulation.

China's Criminal Procedure Law provides for detainees to have access to lawyers no later than one week before trial. However, even this minimal protection is not always observed. Prisoners typically cannot call witnesses for the defense or question witnesses against them. In politically sensitive cases, lawyers have been instructed that they may enter a not-guilty plea only if they get approval from the judicial administration. Even in death-penalty cases, appeals are usually cursory, and defendants may have only several days to file an appeal.

Arbitrary Detention: In addition to judicial convictions, PRC authorities consistently use administrative procedures to detain hundreds of thousands of Chinese and Tibetans each year.

Individuals sentenced administratively by police are not charged or brought before a judge, thereby denying them access to a lawyer and the right to defend themselves. The majority of these individuals are ordinary people, but democracy and human rights activists, independent religious adherents and worker-rights advocates are also frequently detained in this way.

The most common forms of administrative detention are:

1) "reeducation through labor," under which police, without trial, can send individuals to labor camps for up to four years; and

2) "shelter and investigation," under which police can detain people without charge or trial for up to three months, a time limit that is routinely ignored.

The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has determined that the practice of "reeducation through labor" is "inherently arbitrary" when intended for "political and cultural rehabilitation." According to PRC government sources, 100,000 people are sent to "reeducation through labor" camps and one million are "sheltered" each year.

Conditional Releases with Continued Deprivation of Rights: The PRC infrequently has released political prisoners of conscience before the completion of their sentences, predominantly as a result of international pressure. However, those released have been forced into exile, subjected to continuing police surveillance and harassment or, in some cases, detained again for alleged violations of the restrictive conditions of parole or new "crimes" of free expression. Many former prisoners of conscience are not granted the identity cards necessary to gain employment or travel without express official permission.

According to PRC government surveys, women's salaries have been found to average 77% of men's, and most women employed in industry work in low-skill and low-paying jobs. An estimated 70 to 80% of workers laid off as a result of downsizing in factories have been women, and, although women make up 38% of the work force, they are 60% of the unemployed. At job fairs, employers openly advertise positions for men only, and university campus recruiters often state that they will not hire women. Employers justify such discrimination by saying that they cannot afford the benefits they are required to provide for pregnant women, nursing mothers and infants.

The proportion of women to men declines at each educational tier, with women comprising some 25% of undergraduates in universities. Institutions of higher education that have a large proportion of female applicants, such as foreign language institutes, have been known to require higher entrance exam grades from women.

Although China has a law mandating compulsory primary education, increasing numbers of rural girls are not being sent to school. Rural parents often do not want to "waste" money on school fees for girls who will "belong" to another family when they marry. According to official statistics, about 70% of illiterates in China are female.

These kinds of crimes in China continue forever. Before you accuse Japan of being "evil" look at your own violations of BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS.

You make a very good point.

I'm Chinese, but I also believe that there are plenty of historical "blemishes" we shouldn't be proud of.

Invasions of Korea and Vietnam during such dynasties like the great Tang? Or what about the CCP "occupation" of Tibet once WWII was over?

Yes, I agree Japan really has no moral high-ground to "tutor" China on how to "respect" territories, but neither should China lecture Japan on how to publish its history text books when the CCP has banned its citizens from openly talking about Tiananmen and ommitting certain references to the take over of Tibet.

Personally, I believe it's up to each country's leaders to decide on how to deal with its domestic issues. If their neighbours don't like it, then that's tough luck. Yes, I believe Japan should make some serious revisions in its history textbooks in regards to Japan's involvement in WWII and its government should offer an official apology and compensation to the victims of WWII and/or their relatives (if only to give the victims at least some form of final comfort before they pass away...and also to shut the trap of people who continually use these issues as ammo to bash Japan and act as if the Japanese are morally inferior). But how Japan deals with it is up to them - they should decide how to solve issues in their own lives.