America’s Strategic Involvement in the Dispute Between China and Japan

Japan calls them the Senkaku Islands and China refers to them as Diaoyu.

Whatever name you call them by, the little  archipelago is at the center of a dispute that could lead to war in East Asia.

US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is in the thick of things, urging “calm and restraint on all sides” as protests have become increasingly violent in China over the last week.

“It is extremely important that diplomatic means on both sides be used to try to constructively resolve these issues…It’s in everybody’s interest for Japan and China to maintain good relations and to find a way to avoid further escalation.”

Panetta has been in Tokyo since Sunday.  Ironically, while he is calling for diplomacy, he is in Japan discussing missile defense shields and the potential deployment of US Osprey aircraft to Okinawa with Japanese Defense Minister Satoshi Morimoto.  The defense leaders claim that these protocols are being considered against impending threats from North Korea.  According to Panetta, “It will enhance the alliance’s ability to defend Japan, our forward deployed forces and the US homeland from a ballistic missile threat posed by North Korea,”

However, one must consider that on the world stage of encroaching war, lines of alliance are quickly being drawn.  China, for example, is steadfast in it’s  defense of Iran against the US and Israel.  Therefore an American alliance with Japan makes good sense defensively as an attack on Iran seems more and more likely.

Today,  the 81st anniversary of the Japanese invasion of Manchuria, protests have erupted in 125 Chinese cities and 11 ships have entered waters that are claimed by Japan, refusing orders by the Japanese Coast Guard to leave. An armada of 1000 Chinese fishing  boats are alleged to be on their way to the islands in dispute.

Never forget the financial impetus behind all such “noble” disputes.  Overnight, China has announced financial sanctions against Japan. Yesterday ZeroHedge reported:

Other Japanese companies — from Mazda and Mitsubishi Motors to Panasonic and Fast Retailing — also shut plants and stores in China, sending Japanese share prices falling and prompting a warning from credit rating agency Fitch that the situation could hurt some auto and tech firms’ creditworthiness.

Japan’s top general retailer, Seven & I Holdings said it will resume business at all its 13 Ito Yokado supermarkets and 198 “7-11” convenience stores in the cities of Beijing and Chengdu on Wednesday.

Some firms recalled workers back to Japan due to the unrest.

“The situation on the ground in China is not so good and I was advised by the locals not to go out. I couldn’t get any work done,” Japanese expatriate worker Hisato Takase said on arrival at Tokyo’s Haneda airport.

Japanese restaurants, a common target of protesters, barred their doors while many Japanese expatriates stayed home.

Buckle up, because the countdown to WW3 appears to be on.  Will it be alleged to start as a feud over some remote uninhabited islands?

The propaganda machine is just getting wound up to crank out a million and one reasons why all Americans should support the upcoming military actions.  Think critically and follow the money if you want to really understand why.

Our soldiers are about to be sacrificed upon the altar of war to help the rich get richer.