Monday 4 October 2010

Diaoyu

BEIJING, Oct. 2 (Xinhuanet) -- Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu has called for concerted efforts from Japan to maintain relations between the two countries.
Ma says the Diaoyu Islands and their adjacent islets have been Chinese territory since ancient times.
Last month, Japan detained Chinese fishermen and seized their ship in waters off the Diaoyu Islands. It insisted on performing what it called "domestic judicial procedure."
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Now the US is going to put its naval presence to shore up support for Japanese fears of their own growing weakness in the area. As the Chinese said: "Well, the US won't do anything, but it can show up".

Meanwhile Russia and China are working together on the issue of these islands as they have always been contentious, although always Chinese.

High level Russian delegates are working with the Chinese government to try to get Japan to accept reality and to have discussions. Meanwhile the Americans continue to support Japanese right-wing nationalists, as is to be expected.

All the Chinese wish to do is to make their historical case and maintain dialogue. Not such a bad thing. The world has changed. China has no need at all to back away from its own legitimacy in the matter. 

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