China's fury doesn't wash, but why the froth?

[bemildred]

A different take on the anti-Japanese riots.

SHENZHEN - Here in Shenzhen from Hong Kong last Sunday with a couple of friends for some weekend shopping, I had the misfortune of bumping into a several-thousand strong anti-Japanese demonstration at a shopping center - a day trip wasted. Demonstrations had also been held the previous Sunday in this special-economic-zone city across the mainland border with Hong Kong.

At that time, some Japanese (and for good measure, other) department store display windows were smashed, some items looted. This has been going on for the better part of the past two weeks, not just in Shenzhen, but in Beijing, Changsha, Chengdu and other places. Guangzhou seems to have joined in this past Sunday. Shanghai to date has been largely unaffected.

The never-ending controversy over Japanese textbooks once again allegedly touched off the anti-Japanese protests; other issues apparently include Japan's effort to gain a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, the true ownership of the Diaoyutai/Senkaku islands, and claims to oil-and-gas rich undersea territory in the East China Sea.

Asia Times

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

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[teryang]

2. This is an old raw nerve that is readily manipulated

For international gain. Domestically, it can't hurt to whip up a little zenophobia. WWII is yesterday to an Asian.

This is also related to neo-con efforts to bind Japanese to American policy initiatives in East Asia where they are losing ground. If Japan is going to bind itself inextricably to American efforts to gain ground in Asia while their power is on the wane, economically and militarily, they can expect to draw this kind of fire from China. The US tried to regain an "honest broker" image in Asia with Nixon's initiative. Japan can't play that role. The neo-cons made a mistake abandoning it, for ideological objectives disconnected with Asian realities. The neo-cons are in effect trying to role back the "iron curtain" in Asia (N.Korea and Taiwan policies) while their power is declining due to mistakes in Southwest Asia.

If Japan becomes a non-status quo power, they will be rebuffed by the Chinese. I pity the fools who fuck with China.

[bemildred]

4. What worries me is that China may well need some good external enemies.

That issue is hinted at here

[teryang]

5. Rising expectations are always trouble

Ain't change grand?

[Fire Walk With Me]

3. Is China using the "WMD" method?

Whip up a frenzy over nothing, invade, say "oops", then never leave, which was the plan in the first place?

China would never invade a sovereign nation. Just ask Tibet. http://www.tibet.org

Due to Bush and co's actions, lines of power (and opportunism) are starting to run rampant. We'll have a new cold war any day now, with the US on the isolated, "bad guy" side.

[Dirk39]

6. It might sound a bit speculative...

Hello from Germany!

But isn't there some kind of relation between China's stance against Japan on the one hand - and Europe, mostly Germany with the support of Chiraq, wanting to end the weapon-embargo against China?
The Bush-Admin is in a rage because of this I guess.
And isn't there a conflict between China, Germany and Japan about seats in the UN Security-Council?
Just connecting the dots or being paranoid, it's late...
Hi,
Dirk

[daydreamer]

7. Its spring

The weather is nice. 20 something always want to stir up something. No mortgage and car loan to pay. Reading is boring. So what to do? Let's find an excuse and go on the street!