Japan: Japan has sovereignty over the disputed Senkaku Island and will not come to a compromise that would represent a retreat from that position, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said 26 September, after attending the U.N. General Assembly session.
Comment: Noda's statement guarantees future confrontations with the Chinese. No one in Asia will thank China if its assertions of sovereignty ignite Japanese militarism again. China did not fare well in the last test of strength with Japan over regional hegemony. Japan has the most advanced armed forces… self-defense forces … in Asia.
Phi Beta Iota: To the side is China's view of the world with China centrally located. Note that in this view the Pacific is a Chinese lake and Central Asia are convenient land-linked resource parks. Anyone who understands China and pays attention to demographic developments will immediately surmise that any conflict over “near” islands is a bargaining chip with respect to “far” islands. The far islands are Singapore, Fiji, Indonesia or a portion of Indonesia, and Argentina. China is probably also planning a demographic take-over of Siberia, doing to Russia what Mexico has done to the USA, eventually (in 100 years or so) claiming a path to the Arctic. Singapore's Minister-Mentor Lee Kuan Yew was once called “the greatest Englishman in all Asia.” We believe that in 100 years he will be considered the greatest Chinese agent of influence in modern history, in the most positive sense. Americans are simply not capable of thinking this deeply about anything, nor do Americans bring to bear long-term integrity or a holistic perspective.
