Disputed Islands...

As sick as I am about this story I'd like to know what NBR thinks. Because it's just getting silly over here.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/17/world/asia/anti-japanese-protests-over-disputed-islands-continue-in-china.html?_r=0

From what I've read, in 1895 the islands were uninhabited when Japanese ships sailed there, dropped a flag, and claimed them. At that time, the people's republic of China as it is now did not exist and had very different borders.

China's main arguments seem to be that for hundreds of years they fished there and that the Japanese are assholes and the islands are ours and we…want them so we should have them and if we can't have them we're gonna be like… really pissed off and stuff.

As far as I can see Japan's claim, according to international law, is a lot more legitimate. What say you lot? Has this been getting much coverage on the other side?

looks like a Trek

I hadn't heard of those islands before, but Japan has been demanding for decades that Russia give back some islands that the Soviets seized at the end of WW2.

I had some older students getting all heated about the islands in class. So I asked them if they were willing to go to war and die for the little islands. They got a little quieter after that…

We as a species have come so far on the one hand, but are so utterly retared on the other.

It's all over the news here, but I'm pretty sure my neighbors never read the news.

Just wait till Canada's north melts some more. Then you can laugh at us.

There are little islands all over the South China Sea that are disputed …. China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam.

^ is it just me or do China's claim lines seem greedy?

^ is it just me or do China's claim lines seem greedy?

You mean the claims a few miles off the coast of Borneo less than 200 mi from the Equator? Naaaaahhhh ….

looks like a Trek

So the islands actually belong to DW??

hippies

Its getting preety scary out there…bunch of animals, idiots.

Chinese are flexing there muscle, Japan, Taiwan and Philippines are Merican allies….and the Chinese dont seem to care much seeing they have sent military boats into both countries waters.
The Spratly islands claim is a joke.
The fishing boats come in at night as well and drag net the ocean wiping out stocks for local fisherman that actually eat what they catch.

^ is it just me or do China's claim lines seem greedy?

But it's called he South China sea…

But it's called he South China sea…

I'm waiting for India to lay claim to the entire Indian Ocean … all the way to the cape of SA.

Kn.