Andrew+H’s+OpEd+Article

The Tiaoyutai Islands, or universally known as the Senkaku Islands, is a disputed area where China and Japan have both made claims to. In my unbiased opinion, this oil-rich land should be given to the Chinese. China has stated that it has staked its claim on the island since the 14th century, while the Japanese claimed it was theirs during 1895. Without a doubt, the Chinese deserve these lands not only because they staked claim to it nearly 6 centuries before the Japanese tried to fiend it away, but it should be a consolation prize for what the Japanese did to the Chinese in the late 1800s.

Of course both countries are all very patriotic and will not budge without military intervention, so I propose that why not have a one on one? Of course Japan has their hands tied because they still have restrictions from World War II in which they cannot do a preemptive strike, so I propose that China maybe starts it off, maybe with two well-placed attacks that may or may not break their back (hint hint). This may seem extreme, but compared to what the Japanese did to China in their imperialistic age in the late 19th century and early 20th century, certainly China is much bigger influence on the world stage, much like Japan back then. It will be a sort of poetic justice.

On the subject of World War II, the Jewish people were given a piece of land where they could form their own government and protect themselves. Well, since one group of oppressed people got a consolation for the terrors of the past, than Japan should have no problem giving up the Senkaku Islands as a consolation for all the terror they caused the Chinese people during their imperial era. Women were raped, civilians were killed, and buildings looted, all for the sick satisfaction of showing their dominance over the Chinese during that time period. Now, Japan has a not to amend the terror they caused, but try to soothe relationships. But no, they must show that they are the dominant group in Asia, even though that ship has long sailed.

The dispute over an island seems like a small deal in the eyes of many other nations, but it is personal between China and Japan. Conceding to the other will bring great shame to the leaders of both countries. And that is why Japan should concede Senkaku. Japan is already its own chain of multiple islands, so why in the world does it need another one? It speaks volumes of the selfishness of the Japanese leaders to want to monopolize all the islands near them. Japan’s way of life will not drop with the loss of this island, therefore the land should either be given China, or taken by force.

The time to justice is now Mr. Tan.