China drives US-Japan wedge

[unhappycamper]

http://atimes.com/atimes/China/CHIN-01-091213.html



China drives US-Japan wedge
By Peter Mattis
Dec 9, '13

On November 23, Beijing announced that a new air defense identification zone (ADIZ) would go into effect over the East China Sea, overlapping existing Japanese and South Korean ADIZ, requiring all air traffic passing through the zone to file flight information irrespective of its destination. Despite eliciting strong responses from Tokyo and Washington as well as restrained but negative responses from Seoul, Taipei and Canberra, China claimed the ADIZ was a routine measure for improving awareness of its airspace and protecting its national security without any ulterior motive.

Maintaining an ADIZ is a relatively common practice, but Beijing's justification for the new zone rested explicitly on its disputed claim over the Diaoyu (or Senkaku) Islands. From the beginning, Beijing has appeared prepared to address specific foreign concerns, manage diplomatic backlash, and coordinate the launching and publicizing of air patrols. This suggests a deliberate action, even if the reasons for why now remain mysterious. The ways in which Beijing described the ADIZ's establishment indicates China has used this opportunity not only to reinforce its claim on the Diaoyu Islands, but also to drive a wedge between Japan and the United States.

This map, published by the Chinese Ministry of Defense, shows the boundaries of the new air defense zone.



One of the most notable features of China's presentation of the ADIZ and its policies is the absence of crisis language. As Paul Godwin and Alice Miller have chronicled, Beijing makes steadily escalating statements prior to using military force - a feature noted in China's wars since 1949. [1] The principle mouthpieces of the party, while refuting Japanese and US protestations, have remained relatively tame in their language.

[bemildred]

1. That's how I see it.

With that fool Abe in Japan, it's an obvious thing to do, jerk his chain, get him frothing over something.

[FreakinDJ]

2. Not to mention the desputed islands have rescently descovered Natural Gas reserves

[bemildred]

3. One of many disputes between the parties.

It is a mistake to focus just on the gas deposits, I can assure you the Chinese don't.

[FreakinDJ]

4. Just like the islands they are trying to take from the Philippines and Vietnam

At $8 a gal for LNG I can assure you they are focusing on the Natural Gas Deposits

[bemildred]

5. I can tell this is a subject close to your heart. nt

[Laelth]

6. k&r for exposure. n/t

-Laelth