Diaoyu Islands collision a dangerous game

• Source: Global Times
• [00:44 September 08 2010]
• Comments

Sparks flew again in the waters near the Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea. A Chinese fishing boat that was being chased by Japanese coast guard patrol boats collided with two of the vessels yesterday.

The conflict over Diaoyu, known as the Senkaku Islands in Japan, is complicated and unsettled. The islands are claimed by both China and Japan, but in effect are controlled by Japan.

Fishing boats from the Chinese mainland and Taiwan occasionally enter into what Japan considers its "territorial waters," and are often chased off or even sunk after a forceful collision.

This is a highly dangerous maneuver. With the public spotlight increasingly focused on maritime conflicts between the two countries, Japan's irresponsible moves may eventually set fire to the Sino-Japanese relationship, or even force a military showdown.

China did not encourage or instigate its people to cruise into the Diaoyu waters. Japan should also refrain from overreacting to civilian boats occasionally entering this area.

The use of force is a rude move by the Japanese authorities, which directly threatened the Chinese crew's safety. These actions send a strong signal to the Chinese public, and will definitely draw condemnation and protest.

If it were Chinese naval boats smashing into Japanese fishing boats in some disputed area, how would the Japanese public react?

Many Japanese have called for a tougher stance with China in recent years. It ap-pears the Japanese government might be listening.

With their current power and roles in East Asia, the two countries have no reason to be intimidated by one another. As a result, when dealing with a conflict, one should consider the impact on the other side.

Japan should understand that patrolling the disputed waters does not legalize its claim. China's claim over the Diaoyu Islands will never change, as was reiterated yesterday by China's foreign ministry.

Japan's strategy in its southwest is changing, and watching China's every step seems to have become its focus.

Deploying troops to its Southwest Islands, and holding military exercises near the Diaoyu Islands demonstrated this. The military maneuvers are contradictory to the claim of Japan's various administrations to make the East China Sea a sea of peace.

If the Japanese government chooses to stand with some hawkish activists instead of trying to solve disputes with China through talks, the East China Sea is in danger.

Japanese authorities announced last night it would arrest the captain of the Chinese fishing boat on suspicion of violating Japan's fishing laws.

Japan needs to take care of the Chinese crew and publicize the result of its investigation as soon as possible. China also has the right to participate in solv-ing this matter.