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catman
Joined: 18 Jul 2004
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Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2012 3:08 pm Post subject: China protests erupt after Japanese visit disputed islands |
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Protests flared up across China after a group of Japanese nationalist activists swam ashore and raised flags on an island also claimed by China, located northern of Taiwan.
Chinese took to the streets in protest, overturning Japanese-branded cars and smashing windows at some Japanese-owned businesses, as Beijing lodged a formal complaint, urging Tokyo to prevent frictions from escalating further.
Ten Japanese made an unauthorized landing on Uotsuri, the largest in a small archipelago known in Japan as the Senkaku Islands and in China as the Diaoyu Islands. The uninhabited islands surrounded by rich fishing grounds are controlled by Japan but also claimed by China and Taiwan.
Of the 10 who visited the island, five were conservative local assembly members.
"The Senkakus are undoubtedly Japanese territory. It is to be expected that Japanese would take that to heart," said Eiji Kosaka, an assemblyman from Tokyo's Arakawa district.
China's Foreign Ministry protested, summoning Japan's ambassador to voice its complaints.
"The Japanese side should properly handle the current issue and avoid seriously damaging the overall situation of China-Japan relations," ministry spokesman Qin Gang said in a statement.
Tokyo rejected a complaint by China's ambassador to Japan, Cheng Yonghua, according to Japan's Foreign Ministry.
Vice Foreign Minister Kenichiro Sasae told Cheng in a phone conversation that the protests in China were "regrettable" and urged Chinese authorities to ensure the safety of tens of thousands of Japanese citizens there, the ministry said.
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China's official Xinhua News Agency reported protests in cities across the country. Demonstrators burned Japanese flags, overturned or smashed Japanese cars and in some places broke windows of Japan-related businesses.
Days earlier, a group of 14 Hong Kong residents and mainland Chinese travelled by boat to the islands, some swimming ashore. Protesters in Beijing, Hong Kong and other cities praised them as heroes and burned Japanese flags, but Japan arrested the 14 for landing without authorization.
On Friday, Tokyo deported the group, seeking to quiet the regional spat. But plans for further visits by activists on both sides appear likely to further inflame the territorial tensions.
Taiwanese Foreign Minister Timothy Yang summoned Japan's de facto ambassador to Taiwan, Sumio Tarui, on Sunday to lodge a protest over the visit by the Japanese activists to the islands, which are about 190 kilometres (120 miles) off Taiwan's northeastern coast.
Yang said the "provocative act" had heightened tensions in the area, according to a ministry statement.
The spat over long-contested territories comes as China's ruling Communist Party prepares for a major leadership transition. Leaders in both China and Japan face strong domestic pressure to defend national interests.
The Japanese group that landed on Uotsuri Island on Sunday was among dozens of conservative lawmakers and activists who were visiting waters off the disputed islands over the weekend.
"Four days ago there was an illegal landing of Chinese people on the island � as such we need to solidly reaffirm our own territory," said Koichi Mukoyama, a national lawmaker who was among seven conservative parliamentarians aboard a boat in the flotilla of some 20 vessels that travelled to the islands.
The lawmakers refrained from landing on Uotsuri after the government last week rejected their application to visit.
Last week's visit by the Chinese activists raised calls by critics of Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda's government to take stronger action to protect the islands. Some lawmakers are urging that Japan's military be called on to protect the territory.
Japan says it has controlled the five main islands for more than 100 years.
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caniff
Joined: 03 Feb 2004 Location: All over the map
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Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2012 3:35 pm Post subject: |
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And? |
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visitorq
Joined: 11 Jan 2008
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Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2012 4:30 pm Post subject: |
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People who would take to the street and riot over such thing are little better than animals. No respect whatsoever. |
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JustinC
Joined: 10 Mar 2012 Location: We Are The World!
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Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2012 5:18 pm Post subject: |
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little better than animals - a bit strong, don't you think? |
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visitorq
Joined: 11 Jan 2008
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Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2012 5:26 pm Post subject: |
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JustinC wrote: |
little better than animals - a bit strong, don't you think? |
Maybe, but not if it's anything like the last time they had anti-Japan riots in China. I mean when people gather into mobs to burn/destroy property and attack others -- such people do remind me of animals (i.e. unthinking, irrational, and dangerous). |
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JustinC
Joined: 10 Mar 2012 Location: We Are The World!
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Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2012 5:36 pm Post subject: |
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visitorq wrote: |
JustinC wrote: |
little better than animals - a bit strong, don't you think? |
Maybe, but not if it's anything like the last time they had anti-Japan riots in China. I mean when people gather into mobs to burn/destroy property and attack others -- such people do remind me of animals (i.e. unthinking, irrational, and dangerous). |
Mob rule sucks, definitely. The Rodney King riots in LA and Brixton riots in London were ugly affairs with people acting like complete pr**ks, borne of frustration, brutality and envy. How mad do you have to be to burn your own town?? Crazy mad. |
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catman
Joined: 18 Jul 2004
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Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2012 6:29 pm Post subject: |
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Well to be fair they were only attacking Japanese made products. |
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visitorq
Joined: 11 Jan 2008
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Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2012 6:42 pm Post subject: |
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catman wrote: |
Well to be fair they were only attacking Japanese made products. |
Owned and paid for by their fellow Chinese... |
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Steelrails
Joined: 12 Mar 2009 Location: Earth, Solar System
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Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2012 7:14 pm Post subject: |
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Riotus assemblies are never a good thing. Protest, fine. Don't destroy property. Where are the famed Chinese riot police that should be rubber bulleting, tear gassing, batoning, and tazering these nutjobs? |
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young_clinton
Joined: 09 Sep 2009
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Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2012 8:58 pm Post subject: |
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Steelrails wrote: |
Riotus assemblies are never a good thing. Protest, fine. Don't destroy property. Where are the famed Chinese riot police that should be rubber bulleting, tear gassing, batoning, and tazering these nutjobs? |
The rioters know they are not supposed to be doing that. My guess is that they videotaped some of the rioting and will pick them up later.
Unless the rioters were beating people up and trying to kill people, I wouldn't want rubber bullets used on them. I wouldn't want rubber bullets used on anyone. Tear gas and batons maybe. |
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young_clinton
Joined: 09 Sep 2009
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Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2012 9:01 pm Post subject: |
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The chinese have become very aggressive with thier territorial demands. "We need breathing space" They haven't actually said that but thats what it reminds me off - entitlement. |
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Captain Corea
Joined: 28 Feb 2005 Location: Seoul
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Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2012 9:13 pm Post subject: |
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Complain about the government in China... you get whisked away for a secret cell fast than you can say Dim Sum. Complain about Japan... and destroy a bunch of property, not so much will happen to ya. |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994
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Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2012 6:03 am Post subject: |
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At a time when China is being aggressive all along its border, Korea 'decides' to make a stink.
This is foolish.
Korea is stuck between three much larger and much more powerful states. It's only hope of independence is to play one off against the other two.
The current government: "Oops, we screwed up the military information deal with the Japanese that would have been a help to both.
'Best response': "Let's needlessly aggravate the Japanese rather than build an alliance with the Japanese, Viet Namese, Filipinos, Taiwanese..." It needn't be hostile. It only needs to be "Hey, Chinese bigots, you aint't going to ride rough-shod over us again." |
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Steelrails
Joined: 12 Mar 2009 Location: Earth, Solar System
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Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2012 12:01 pm Post subject: |
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Ya-ta Boy wrote: |
At a time when China is being aggressive all along its border, Korea 'decides' to make a stink.
This is foolish.
Korea is stuck between three much larger and much more powerful states. It's only hope of independence is to play one off against the other two.
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Dude, this isn't the 1920s anymore. China isn't going to send its legions into Korea to annex it and install a puppet governor. We're in the 21st century. You know, markets and such. What exactly would China gain in terms of invading Korea? Korea's abundant natural resources and oil reserves? |
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sublunari
Joined: 11 Jun 2009
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Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2012 2:47 am Post subject: |
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Steelrails wrote: |
Ya-ta Boy wrote: |
At a time when China is being aggressive all along its border, Korea 'decides' to make a stink.
This is foolish.
Korea is stuck between three much larger and much more powerful states. It's only hope of independence is to play one off against the other two.
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Dude, this isn't the 1920s anymore. China isn't going to send its legions into Korea to annex it and install a puppet governor. We're in the 21st century. You know, markets and such. What exactly would China gain in terms of invading Korea? Korea's abundant natural resources and oil reserves? |
You assume that the people who order invasions of other countries think logically. |
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