This is a comment in response to a well written but hopelessly one sided opinion on The New York Times,
An excerpt from the original entry,
"For months now the waters around Japan have been teeming with territorial disputes, first with South Korea and now with China and Taiwan. The virulence of this latest Chinese-Japanese spat is chilling, and there’s no end in sight.
Neither history nor geography are clear on the complicated ownership of the tiny islets called Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China. In this sensitive period of political transitions in both countries, wisdom would have dictated restraint. But in April, Shintaro Ishihara, the influential governor of Tokyo, threatened to buy the disputed islands from their private owners. His taunting forced the normally measured prime minister, Yoshihiko Noda, to take a hard stance by announcing the national government’s purchase of the isles."
Ref.http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/29/opinion/japan-is-flexing-the-wrong-muscles.html?ref=global-asia&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_ae_20120928&_r=0
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/29/world/asia/china-alters-its-strategy-in-dispute-with-japan.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_ae_20120928 "
Is Japan another Tibet ?
I understand the geography seems quite clear but may be there has been some dust being deliberately kicked up to conveniently rewrite/repaint history.
It's really strange and troubling to understand why the author seems to entertain and blindly support the claims by China and Taiwan when the islands have historically been controlled by Japan. It's easy to manufacture a dispute by claiming what belongs to another, it is ridiculous to support, tolerate and promote people who resort to staging and engaging in such devious tactics.
Given the regime, its ambitions and some serious intelligence leaks, one can't help but make and permanently seal a defensive purchase. This is yet another case of more bullying by China. To much of the international community Tibet remains a forgotten story and a shamelessly neglected Human tragedy. Was is it the same sense of legitimacy that prevailed when they tried to lay claim to Taiwan as well? If it weren't for American intervention, it would have been just another Tibet. Which has led to the Taiwan coast being one of the most heavily fortified coast line in the world.
It's really amazing, amusing and pathetic at times to see just how many here in the West are busy su*king up to the leadership in China.
Sincerely,
Jai Krishna Ponnappan