America Dragged Into China-Japan Tussle Over Islands

Quarrel is so vicious some think it could end in war

The two largest economies in the Asia-Pacific region are bashing one another over a small archipelago in the South China Sea. Japan claims it owns the group of islands it calls the Senkaku Islands. China claims it owns the same group of islands it calls the Diaoyu Islands. So contested are the islands that some are suggesting the conflict between China and Japan could erupt into war, with the US caught in the middle.

Washington has taken the official stance of not taking a stance on the dispute, trying its best to stay out of the conflict. But the 1951 San Francisco Peace Treaty between the US and Japan suggests ownership of the islands belongs to the Japanese, and is backed by another treaty, the 1960 Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security.

But another treaty, this one in 1943, between the US and the Republic of China, states that, "Japan shall be stripped of all the islands in the Pacific" that it seized, occupied, or stole since 1914, and that they will be returned to China – including, according to China, the Diaoyu Islands.

Via Foreign Policy

Can the US keep the peace between China and Japan?

[D_T_Liberty]

Yes I belive we can as our advantage is we know how to negotiate.

[AlexanderKM]

Wow, late on the uptake I read this before going to bed. The U.S. said it will stand by it's treaty obligations to defend Japan. So here we have yet another reason that a World War could erupt. Ironic, last time the Japs dragged us into the fire with them. This time we could wind up in World War 3, once more because of them - only defendin' them. By the way Politix you neglected to mention that this started because Japan purchased three privately held Senkaku island. So in my opinion China can stfu 'cause they could've outbid Japan if they really wanted to.

[Starsplash]

Actually, before the sale even occured, China has always sent people to the islands and tried to land on it. Those Chinese were arrested and China used that as a way to lash out at Japan.

Its like telling you're friend to turn off the light. When he does, you fall down the stairs and you blame you're friend.

Its stupid, I know. China is famous for stupid shit.

[Bobolinsky]

Cluster***k!

[VCP]

Exactly.

[MongoAPillager]

could get ugly.. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/commentary/a-w...

[AceLuby]

The US should stay out of it, just like we should for most of wars we get involved in.

[americankid23]

Tell china and japan to sort out their own differences, thats why the U.S is always at war with somebody

[mimi57]

I would heed Winston Churchill's advice on this, we've got enough going on!

[MongoAPillager]

more jaw-jaw less war-war?

[mimi57]

@MongoAPillager Yeah...don't you think?

[MongoAPillager]

@mimi57 maybe stay home-home,let our little friends reduce themselves to a manageable population,maybe sell them some armament,put our people to work at their expense for once

[mimi57]

@MongoAPillager You're a smart one Mongo...LOL

[MongoAPillager]

@mimi57 what is it they say about a broken clock its right twice a day !:}

[Buzzfriendly]

We have enough of our own problems to deal with. Let the UN deal with it, or better still, let China and Japan deal with it.

[Kellso]

I sure hope we can, but unfortunatelly, nether country listens to us much any more.

[dances-weebles]

that's because it's none of our business.

[dances-weebles]

the u.s. shouldn't even try. it's not their problem

[Penn1699]

We need to stay out of it unless China and Japan want us as arbitrators.

[Stratton]

The whole conflict is stupid. It's not about the islands themselves, it's about the oil and gas rights to the surrounding sub-oceanic shale. Something like 5 countries claim it. Wouldn't it consume less time, resources, and money to just work out an agreement to share the development rights?

This is the kind of dispute the UN should be able to resolve if it were not hopelessly dysfunctional.

[artjeb]

STRATTON, you are absolutly right about th UN.

[CommonSense]

Then China or Japan should say to the other "OK, you can have the islands on one condition, we get all the oil and gas rights to the surrounding sub-oceanic shale."
When the other side protests this offer it reveals that the whole fight is over fossil fuels and not the islands.

[Wilberhum]

Washington has taken the official stance of not taking a stance on the dispute and we need to maintain that stance. If they want, we can act as an Independent Arbitrator. But that needs to be the extent of our involvement.

[Decent-Dissent]

Let the island inhabitants vote on it, duh.

[citizen7]

I just wonder who brought this into the light during an United States election year? Couldn't have come up the year before or the year after, just had to happen this year. I would not be surprised if someone wasn't stoking this fire.

[Fishbone345]

Interesting. We can run to our allies Israel at the drop of a hat, but we'll leave Japan to fend for itself.
I wonder why that is? Couldn't be because China is our Pimp could it?

[Nemesis3X]

I am for the U.S. staying out of it as long as China does not attempt to invade or destroy mainland Japan. While at the same time admonishing Japan if they attempt that with China. That is of course should they resort to combat!

[sylehrman]

No.
Well, I guess that sums it up.

[Keyjo]

Japan will not attack China with their defense only, civilian/military. However, if China attacks, we have an obligation to defend Japan. The numerous U.S. Marines and Sailors stationed in Japan and Okinawa are not only there for strategic purposes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_Self-Defen...
As far as the United States staying out of it, check out:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Mutual...

[marine1]

say what you want, japan makes a lot better product than china.Quality is always better than quantity.