Aysen+T’s+OpEd+Article



So if you haven't heard, China and Japan are almost at each other's throats for a few islands. The Senkaku Islands, or as the Chinese call them, the Diaoyu Islands, are eight tiny, uninhabited islands in between the Japanese Ryukyu Islands and Taiwan. Japan officially annexed the islands in 1895 and they are internationally recognized by the Japanese name. But oh so sneaky China decided to "claim" the islands in 1972 once potential oil reserves were found near the islands.

China alleges to have discovered the islands first but they never put people there or even developed anything on the islands to prove it. And the mere fact that the PRC only wants the islands to be "disputed" compared to Japan's rightful claim of complete jurisdiction proves that China is arguing on shaky grounds and is trying to pollute the waters (and air) for their own benefit.

And it's not like China needs more space; while China does have a rather hefty population that leaches off the Earth's resources like maggots on dogs, Japan's population density per square mile is more than double that of China's. Moreover, China's nasty smog problem poses a serious threat to the native Senkaku mole, an endangered species, as well as the rare Short-tailed albatross that breeds on the islands.

There's no doubting that both Japan and China are fierce rivals and have deep pride within themselves. But for China to try to take over a Japanese island on a bogus pretense is completely un-called for and reeks of arrogance.

China needs to get their lying, little arses out of fight they won't win. December 7th will come again Andrew!!!