The Rise of China

[sportsinvestment]

Having spent plenty of time in Japan, I find this all particularly distressing. I hope things return to harmony soon...

For those in China and HK ... What has it REALLY been like? and what is the general publics feelings surrounding this unfortunate dispute?

[sgd]

--- Three Chinese 'Surveillance' Vessels Enter Japanese Waters Around Senkaku Islands for the first time

source: Zerohedge

It's been quiet, too quiet in the Pacific for the last few days, but now, as Yoimuri reports (and confirmed by Kyodo), the Japanese Maritime Safety Agency (Coastguard) issued a statement that "Chinese surveillance vessels on Thursday entered Japan's territorial waters around a group of islands claimed by China, for the first time in three weeks." Three Chinese maritime vessels moved into the waters near Minamikojima, one of the five main islands of the Japan-controlled Senkaku group in the East China Sea, around 6:30 a.m., the coast guard said. It is the first time since Oct. 3 that Chinese surveillance vessels have entered Japan's territorial waters around the Senkakus, which are known as Diaoyu in China.

[Image: 20121024_china1_1.png]

[sgd]

This may mean they could use as 'leverage' to search ships whenever there are tensions with this I see an arms race on the horizon and maybe inevitable naval clash later on.

For us though we do not have any claims in the spratlies our economic existence is based on the current status quo of open seas ie nobody controlling the sea lanes, if this escalates further in the form of taxation of commercial shipping everybody will start doing it in their territorial waters we going be screwed.

source: CBC NEWS

[Image: hi-philippines-china852.jpg]

The Philippines on Saturday denounced Chinese plans to search ships sailing through what Beijing says is its territory in the South China Sea in the latest irritant between the countries.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that the plans should be condemned by the international community because they violate maritime domains of countries in the region and impede freedom of navigation.

Chinese state media announced the plans, saying southern Hainan province, which Beijing says administers the South China Sea, had approved laws giving its police the right to search vessels that pass through the waters.

Last week the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan and India protested a map on a new Chinese passport that depicts disputed areas as belonging to China.

China's action blasted as 'illegal'

The Philippine statement said it wants Beijing to "immediately clarify its reported plans to interdict ships that enter what it considers its territory in the South China Sea."

It said Manila was concerned that ships entering waters claimed by China, which is "virtually the entire South China Sea … can be boarded, inspected, detained, confiscated, immobilized and expelled, among other punitive actions."

China's action will be "illegal and will validate the continuous and repeated pronouncements by the Philippines that China's claim of indisputable sovereignty over virtually the entire South China Sea is not only an excessive claim but a threat to all countries," the statement said.

The maritime territorial disputes include the Spratly Islands over which China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei have conflicting claims. The Spratlys chain is believed to sit atop rich oil and gas reserves and straddles one of the world's busiest sea lanes.