As a North East Asian historian, I already have an opinion on this issue and perhaps will provide my analysis if others wish. However, I am very interested to see what others think about this issue.

I highly recommend others research this debate & please give a detailed explanation rather than a short reply. Plse no racist comments. This is a serious question that deserves a serious & mature response.

<GlobalSecurity.org> has a pretty good rundown on the history of the conflict.

<http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/news/world-asia-20... > BBC

<www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAnTl-WxKIk> I don't always agree w proper-gander-buster, but his views are rather entertaining (can be offensive at times-but not overtly) & somewhat informative.

<www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8B2LTQK8nM> Protest in China.

<www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzW6zujQiN8> Protest in Japan.

<www.youtube.com/watch?v=UB7VWBsy5Co> Taiwan's Claim

_______________________________________

The BASIC INFORMATION/411:

_______________________________________

The dispute is over the small island chain in the East China Sea known as Senkaku in Japanese and Diaoyu in Chinese.

It isn't just about the 7 sq km of islands. It's much more because of the waters strategic location which are close to the important shipping lanes, offer rich fishing grounds and are thought to contain oil deposits.

Americans may see this as a problem between two longtime Asian rivals with little need for U.S. involvement -- is this the right approach? Remember, America & other countries also use those trade routes, and one of China's central strategic aim is to continue to grow militarily & economically & eventually reduce the U.S. security role in Asia.

_________________

____BUT_________ do not forget the history, the fact is that the United States has played an integral role in the dispute from the beginning:

• The U.S. entered the picture after Japan's defeat in World War II.

• The San Francisco Peace Treaty between Tokyo and the allies signed in 1951. This would seem to include Senkaku, and indeed the U.S. administered the islands for several years and the military used them for bombing practice.

• In 1971, the U.S. and Japan signed a treaty reverting Okinawa and the surrounding islands back to Japanese control.

• According to the Chinese version of events, Diaoyu had been administered by Taiwan -- which was ruled by imperial China -- prior to the war.

• China & Taiwan do not disputes Japan's occupation of islands. However, per post-WW II arrangements, they say Japan was required to surrender territories obtained from aggression and revert them to their pre-1895 legal status.

• Japan claims that the uninhabited islands were never China's to give. They were never administered by China and therefore not part of the package of land ceded.

• According to Japan, China never contested its claim to the islands until nearby energy deposits were discovered in the 1970s.

• As of now, the US does not take a position of the ultimate sovereignty of the Senkaku Islands.

• In consideration for the above statement, I want others to consider the further complicating matters of the 1960 Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the United States and Japan. According to Article 5/日米安保条約 of the security agreement <machidaheiwa.fc2web.com/.../law-security.html> the islands "fall within the scope of Article 5," meaning that if China took action to reassert its sovereignty over the islands, the U.S. would be obligated to intervene on Japan's behalf.

• It is arguably important to recognize that Japan (& South Korea) is Washington's most vital ally in Asia.

______________________________________________________________________

Questions to consider (no need to answer all-merely inspiration for talking points):

______________________________________________________________________

• Do you think a successful Asia strategy is impossible without a strong alliance with Japan?

•What are your feelings about this debate? Who has the right to the islands?

•How do you feel China & Japan are handling this issue?

•In Japan, some politicians are reacting by a nationalist. Do you feel this debate's provocation leads to nationalism? Is this productive or unproductive?

• What kind of impact will this have on our world's economy & trade if China is able to take control of the trade routes, which are currently under Japanese control? Will there be any impact or no effect at all?

• Lastly, what do you think about the US stance by being neutral? Should we/they take more responsibility considering their history with these islands?