Island Conflict - Collected Opinion from China

日美军演的记事
.....................................................................................

News Update on August 29, 2012:

China's Legal Network reacted on a protest from the Japanese embassy in Beijing and Japan's foreign minister. The protest referred to an incident that took place on August 27 when a Chinese male had snatched the Japanese flag from the ambassador's car while it was forced to stop in the streets of Beijing.

迫车拔旗 不是爱国是添乱

Approaching the car to seize the flag is not patriotic but [creating] disorder.

[Source: Legal Network on August 29, 2012]

港媒：钓鱼岛有石油并无根据 中国一直保持理智

Hongkong Media:
It's a groundless [assumption] that Diaoyu Island has oil. China anyway keeps its senses.

[Source: ifeng.com on August 29, 2012]

军报：安保条约成不了日本侵犯中国利益保护伞

Military Newspaper:
The security pact will not succeed in Japan violating China's umbrella [i.e. protected zone] of interest.

[Source: Newspaper of the People's Liberation Army quoted by People's Network on August 29, 2012]

.....................................................................................

News Update on August 28, 2012:

On August 28, China's Strategic Network quoted the Hongkong daily "Sun" with the following words:

港报：解放军陆海空两栖攻击夺岛演习警告日本

Hongkong newspaper: The Liberation Army's ground forces, navy, airforce and amphibious forces are accusing the "Seizing Islands Manoeuvre" and are warning Japan.

.....................................................................................

News Update by ifeng.com on August 26, 2012:

蔡英挺反对美把钓鱼岛列为美日安保条约适用对象

Cai Ying Ting opposes America's putting Diaoyu Island on a list of suitable targets for a treaty on security protection by America and Japan.

Editor's Note: 中国人民解放军副总参谋长蔡英挺
Cai Ying Ting is vice-chairman of the general staff for the People's Liberation Army of China. He made his remarks about Diaoyu Island during his actual visit to the U.S.A..

……蔡英挺在华盛顿接受中国驻美媒体采访时表示，代表团在访问期间向美方强调了中国人民和军队的强烈主权意识，中方坚决反对美国把钓鱼岛作为美日安保条约的适用对象。

On a press conference in Washington for [representatives of the] Chinese media residing in the U.S.A., Cai Ying Ting made clear that [his] delegation during their visit to the U.S. [always] underlined the strong consciousness of sovereign rights among, both, China's people and their armed forces. China resolutely opposes the American view that is making Diaoyu Island a suitable target for the U.S.-Japanese treaty of security protection.

……
随蔡英挺一同访美的成员还包括：北京军区参谋长王宁、济南军区副司令员兼济南军区空军司令员郑群良、广州军区参谋长贾晓炜、战略规划部副部长陈守民等。

[The delegation that] accompanies Cai Ying Ting on his visit to America is including the following members: The chairman of general staff for the Beijing military region Wang Ning, [two high-ranking officers] from the military region of Jinan province, the chairman of general staff for the military region of Guangzhou province Jia Xiao Wei, and the second director of the department for strategic plannings Chen Shou Min.

[Source: "ifeng.com" on August 26, 2012, quoting an earlier cable that has been released the day before by New China Agency's Washington office.]

.....................................................................................

News Update by People's Network, Beijing, on August 25, 2012:

外交部：对日本首相损害中国领土主权的言论表示强烈不满

[China's] Foreign Ministry: As to Japan's prime minister damaging China's territorial sovereignty, a strong verbal expression might not be enough.

.....................................................................................

News Update by Liberation Daily, Shanghai, on August 24, 2012:

日本众院通过涉钓鱼岛问题决议，我外交部发言人强调——借决议霸岛，日方做法非法徒劳

Japan's House of Representatives passed a resolution involving Diaoyu Island [while] China's foreign ministry spokesman emphasized:
" Using the resolution as a pretext for hegemonist power over an island, Japan's practice is an illegal and fruitless effort. "

Two days earlier, on August 22, the Shanghai based daily was cited by People's Network with the following headline:

解放日报：日本切勿一错再错

Liberation Daily: Japan - Be sure not to do commit your mistake twice !

.....................................................................................

The following text is quoting the Hongkong Asia Times that is discussing the actual island conflict in the frame of modern geopolitical constellations in the East and South China Sea:

Headline:

港媒：岛屿争端挑战美国在亚洲的关系

Hongkong media: The islands conflict is challenging the U.S. in the frame of their Asian relationships.

这正是美国在将战略重心移向亚洲的过程中依赖更加自信的日本的根本缺陷。日本的民族主义者非常渴望在地区内担任积极角色。

This is exactly a move of America's strategic focus towards Asia's development which [now] depends on an increase of self-confidence [despite] Japan's fundamental shortcomings, [while] Japan's nationalism is extremely longing to claim the active part in the region.

Editor's Note: This chapter is referring to Japan's traditional imperialism, now seen in an alliance with the U.S..

此外，任何一种推动日本军事积极行动的举动都会导致该地区各个国家民族主义的激烈反应。在东亚地区，历史民族情绪可以压倒地缘政治，过去的伤口非常深重。

Furthermore, whatever is driving Japan to act in a vigorous military operation, can cause a fierce [outbreak] of nationalism in the countries of this region. In the East-Asian region, historic nationalism can prevail over geopolitics [because of] former wounds being deeply cut and serious.

美国一旦推动被视为日本新军国主义的路线，那么对于韩国、菲律宾和越南政府和人民而言，美国根本不可能是可靠的战咯合作伙伴。一旦美国支持日本增强军力，中国政府肯定会充分对该地区的反日情绪加以利用。

In case America is giving impetus to what is regarded as the line of Japan's new militarism, that [would raise] talk among the governments of South Korea, the Philippines, Vietnam and [their] peoples. It is unlikely that America simply is [just] the reliable and cooperative [Yankee] partner. In case America is backing Japan to strengthen [its] military power, China's government will certainly know how to fully utilize anti-Japanese sentiments in the region.

[Source: Hongkong Asia Times Online on August 23, 2012, quoted by People's Network]

.....................................................................................

Voices from China and Japan:





[Source: Weekly Review on NKK World TV, Tokyo, on August 26, 2012]

---

Daily audience statistics for "blueprint news" on Sunday August 26, 2012:

Iran - Pro-Assad Terrorism ?

طالب المرشد الأعلى الإيراني آية الله علي خامنئي قوة فيلق القدس التابعة للحرس الثوري الإيراني بالتكثيف من عملياتها الإرهابية ضد الغرب وحلفائه، وذلك لدعمهم المعارضة السورية التي تطالب برحيل الرئيس بشار الأسد

Iran's Supreme Guide [of Islam] Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ordered the [Al-Quds brigade] attached to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard to concentrate their terrorist operations against the West and its allies [because of] their assistance of the Syrian confrontation which is demanding an emigration of president Bashar al-Assad.

ووفق ما نقلته صحيفة "التلغراف" عن المخابرات الغربية، فإن خامنئي دعا لاجتماع سري مع مجلس الأمن القومي الإيراني في طهران لمناقشة تقرير حول الآثار المترتبة على إيران جراء قلب نظام الحكم في سوريا

[It should be] agreed not to [spread this via] the journal "Telegraph" to Western intelligence agencies. Then, Khamenei called for a reunion of the [brigades] with the Iranian National Security Council in Tehran for discussing a decision on what [consequences] to take on the part of Iran concerning an overthrow of the ruling system in Syria.

[Source: Al-Arabiya, Arabic website, on August 22, 2012]

There are lots of comments given by readers of the Al-Arabiya article. One of them came to my attention because it compares the situation in the Arab world with that of South-East Asia where the most populated Islamic states can be found:

كثير من الدول الاسلاميه غير عربيه مثل ماليزيا و اندنوسيا و غيرها لاكن لم ينصب لهاالعداء مثل ماينصب لايران اذن المشكله ليست قوميه بل هيه مذهبيه صرفه

Many non-Arabic but Islamic countries like Malaysia and Indonesia as well as others didn't install the contradictions [in their inside] like Iran did install them. Furthermore, the difference [between those countries and Iran] is not in nationalism but in ideological morphology.

---

Background Information on Iran:
Report from the Arabic / English magazine "Akhbar al-Aan أخبار الآن" in Dubai on April 17, 2012.

Iranian officials observed North Korean rocket launch

" The Telegraph newspaper said that information and data revealed a clue on the cooperation between North Korea and Iran. The Telegraph also reported that Iranian officials were present in North Korea last week to witness the failed rocket launch.

The high-profile rocket launch, which took place to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of North Koreas founder, was reportedly attended by 12 officials from the Shahid Hemmat Industrial Group (SHID). The organization, which is the subject of a number of international sanctions, attended in order to witness the launch at first hand, according to Yonhap news agency reports. The Iranians undoubtedly were there to observe the missile launch and receive test data from North Korea.

News of North Koreas guests from Iran is likely to cast the spotlight onto the suspected relationship between the two nations in terms of the exchange of ballistic missile technology, and the nuclear files. US President Barak Obama threatened with more sanctions against Iran in case talks between biggest countries and Iran ended this week, remained in its place. Obama expressed his stand in refusing the Iranian attempts to delay and exploit talks to gain time, Obama added that he made this clear to Iran and negotiating parties.

The failed missile launch received a wide international denunciation while Iranian participation stirs many questions about how much Iran is serious in keeping its nuclear program peaceful, and the reasons that made many Iranian experts attend the failed missile experience in North Korea. "

---

Al-Jazeera's news on Israel's military preparations
[Report from August 20, 2012]:

موفاز يطلب عقد لقاء مع رئيس الحكومة الإسرائيلية لبحث نوايا الأخير تجاه الملف النووي الإيراني

Mofaz requires a [formal] meeting with Israel's prime minister for the study of plannings of the most extreme facing of Iran's nuclear [dossier => subject].

Editor's Note: Lt. General Shaul Mofaz, born in Tehran, is the current Chairman of the Kadima Party which is the largest party by seats in the current Knesset. As a former Chief of the General Staff and in other high-ranking military positions he has very much influenced the development of Israel's military in the past decade. In his actual political position he could now become an important partner to prime minister Netanyahu when it comes to a nuclear attack against Iran.

الجيش الإسرائيلي ينشر صواريخ القبة الفولاذية في مدينة إيلات على البحر الأحمر

Israeli forces deploy missiles "Dome of Steel" in the town of Eilath at the Red Sea.

East Asia - Who is Ruling the Sea ?

A Chinese website in the frame of People's Network is dealing with the subject of Japan and America striving for hegemony in the East China Sea. This site is referring to joint manoeuvres of Japanese and U.S. naval units from August 21 until September 26, 2012. It is maintained by two reporters of China's People's Daily. One of them is reporting from the U.S.A. and the other from Japan.

Title of Website:

夺岛作战—日美联合军演

Fighting to Seize Islands - Joint Manoeuvres of Japan and the U.S.

Title of the above picture:

美日举行首次护岛军演 假设解放军攻占钓鱼岛

The first military exercise for the "protection of islands" staged by Japan and the U.S. and assumed to liberate Diaoyu Island from military occupation.

This website is including different articles. The main article on August 21 has been checked and partly translated:

人民日报：美日夺岛作战演习是张废牌

People's Daily: The U.S.-Japanese fighting to seize islands is putting on display a used brand.

明知是一张“废牌”，却打得热火朝天，这究竟是意在激怒中国的战术小聪明，还是战略上的不自信？日美两国想必心知肚明。

[While they are] fully aware of that "used brand", yet being on terms of intimacy and buzzing with activity, should all that what actually happens [only] be meant to excite China's tactical cleverness and [its] missing strategic self-confidence ? Japan and the U.S., both, are most probably knowing [the answer] in their innards !

.....................................................................................

North Korea immediately reacted on the joint manoeuvres of Japan, South Korea and the U.S., renouncing the military drill near its territory.

According to NHK World in Japan, North Korean TV said:

" The drill is the most serious act of destruction of the armistice of the Korean War. We are ready to use force and take physical counteraction to safeguard our sovereignty. "

Only some days ago, North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un had visited an island disputed between North and South Korea (photo below). [Source: Japan's NHK World TV on August 21, 2012]

---

On August 20, Al-Jazeera reported the death of a Japanese journalist:

مراسل الجزيرة: مقتل صحفية يابانية في قصف مدفعي على حي سليمان في حلب

A reporter of Al-Jazeera [says] that a female Japanese journalist died during the artillery shelling of Saliman neighbourhood in Aleppo.

The following day, August 21, Japan's NHK World TV identified her as Mika Yamamoto, a 45 year old journalist working for an independent Japanese news agency. Her father said she was there to report on women and children in need in the combat zones of Syria.

---

Footnote on Syria: Assad's Chemical Weapons

Today, U.S. President Obama directed a severe warning towards Syria that any use or relocation of chemical weapons would cause an adequate reaction of the United States. Such is the U.S. reaction on Assad's decision to apply such weapons in case of any interference of foreign troops in his country. As to the chemical agent Sarin, probably used in Syrian grenades and missiles, an earlier blogspot of mine has already dealt with that subject.

---

Another "Postcard" from Washington D.C.:

Syria - Sad Ending of Ramadan - UPDATE

Updates for August 19 / 20 further down!

.....................................................................................
Latest UPDATE of the day (August 18):
According to the rebels, Syria's vice-president should have defected. [Source: CNN]
.....................................................................................

الشبكة السورية: 134 قتيلا اليوم معظمهم في جمشق و ريفها و حلب و دير الزور

According to Syrian networks 134 [persons] died today, most of them in Damascus, Rifa, Aleppo and Dir al-Sur [Derisur].

Damaged building in Dir al-Sur (Derisur) on August 18, 2012 (above).
View of Aleppo township (below).

Seven [persons] died and some tens were wounded during the shelling of [a village] in Aleppo province.

Refugee camp at the Jordanian border (above) and the Turkish border (below).

لاجئون سوريون يستعدون للاحتفال بعيد آخر في ظل المعاناة و عدم الاستقرار في بلادهم

Syrians are not inspired to prepare for the celebrations of ending [the period of fasting] in the shadow of being tried [by desaster] and the absence of stability in their country.

Calligraphy depicting the holy month of Ramadan that is ending today (above).

---

Further News on Syria:

Al-Arabiya reported on August 17, 2012, the arrest of a leading personality of the pan-Arabic Ba'ath Party that once came to power in Syria and Iraq and was later abolished in Syria by Hafiz al-Assad, the father and predecessor in power of Bashir al-Assad.

النظام السوري يعتقل الرجل الثاني في حزب البعث

The Syrian regime arrested the Ba'ath Party's No.2.

فرع الحزب في اليمن دعا الرئيس السوري بشار الأسد إلى التنحي

The party's Yemenite branch called Syrian president Bashir al-Assad to resign.

Could it be that Bashir al-Assad is still in fear of the Ba'ath movement that was founded in 1947 in Syria ? Ba'athism originally calls for the renaissance or resurrection and unification of the Arab world into a single state. Its motto, "Unity, Liberty, Socialism", refers to Arab unity, and freedom from non-Arab control and interference. As a political orientation for the post-Assad era, the principles of Ba'athism might become interesting again for some of those who are now engaged in the revolutionary process of the Arab Spring, not only in Syria....

.....................................................................................

On August 19, 2012, the Lebanese daily Ya Libnan once again referred to the case of Michel Samaha, a former Lebanese minister and friend of Bashir al-Assad with a pro-Syrian attitude:

Lebanon President Michel Suleiman said on Saturday that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad should call him and explain the transfer of weapons from Syria to Lebanon in the car of former Information Minister Michel Samaha.

“ The Lebanese judiciary accused a Syrian official of sending weapons to Lebanon, and I expect the Syrian president to call me and explain the incident. I hope this call will take place,” National News Agency quoted Suleiman as saying.

Earlier this month, Lebanese security forces arrested Samaha in a case linked to a bombing plan aimed to create a strife in Lebanon.

Background information on that subject in my August 11 blogspot Syria - Days of Decisive Battles and in the August 9 Update of my blogspot: Syria - Increased Activity.

.....................................................................................

Due to increasing mistrust between Lebanese and Syrian citizens in the frame of alleged plans of the Assad regime to destabilize Lebanon, kidnappings of Syrians by Lebanese groups and vice versa have occurred in recent days. [Source: Al-Jazeera, August 20, 2012]

عشيرة آل المقداد تطلق سراح مواطن سوري كانت قد اختطفته يوم الجمعة الماضي في بيروت

The tribe [Aal al-Maqdad] released a Syrian citizen after his kidnapping last Friday in Beirut.

لجنة دعم المعتقلين و المفقودين اللبنانيين تطالب بوقف مسلسل الخطف المتبادل بين اللبنانيين و السوريين

The committee for the assistance of Lebanese prisoners and disappeared [persons] demands to put an end to the chain of [futile] kidnappings between Lebanese and Syrian [citizens].

As to Syria, things cannot be expected to ameliorate after the international mission ended without result:

أعضاء بعثة المراقبين الدوليين في سوريا يغادرون دمشق بعد يوم من انتهاء مهمتهم رسميا

Members of the international observers mission in Syria are leaving Damascus after the day their official mission expired.

---

A list of visitors to "blueprint news" coming from Lebanon (August 11-19):

China vs Japan - Modern Imperialism - UPDATE

- Developing Story on Multilateral Dispute -
UPDATE for August 17 / 18 / 19 further down !

After renewed territorial claims of the Japanese government regarding some islands in the East China Sea, China is now teasing Japan by sending some "inofficial" personnel from Hongkong to land on disputed Diaoyu Island.

民间保钓人士计划今登钓鱼岛 日方称此举系非法入侵

"Nongovernmental personnel for the protection of fishing" is planning to set foot on Diaoyu Island, today. - Japan is calling this act an illegal intrusion.

香港保钓行动委员会成员将中国国旗插在船上

A member of the Hongkong [based] "committee for operations to protect fishing" is plugging in China's national flag on board of [their] ship.

[Source: People's Network, Beijing, on August 15, 2012]

For further information on that subject click to the following link:
Japan - Territorial Claims

.....................................................................................

UPDATE for August 17, 2012:

Two days later on August 17, CNN reported the arrest of 14 Chinese citizens from Hongkong trying to land on Diaoyu Island and plant there a Chinese and a Taiwanese flag. The arrest was executed by Okinawa police and the Japanese coast guard. Some time later, all of the Chinese were sent back to Hongkong without further criminal charges by Japanese authorities.

The same day, August 17, chinanews.com published a series of five articles in Chinese on the subject of disputed Pacific islands, thus showing the significance of that matter in times when offshore oil and fishing grounds become more and more important.

Here are some stances from these articles, partly referring to academic analysis done at a center for studies of foreign relations at China's University of the People:

专家析日本钓鱼岛问题背后战略为遏制中国崛起

Professional analysts [say] Japan's strategy behind the subject of Diaoyu Island is to keep China's ascent [as a political force] within limits.

Referring to Japan's three-sided quarrel with China, South Korea and Russia over territorial claims in the Pacific Ocean:

专家：日“三面争岛”反映其在本地区相对

Experts [say] Japan's "Three-sided island dispute" is reflecting its relative isolation in that region.

专家：日本与俄争岛是欲为历史翻案俄不会让步

Experts [say] the island dispute between Japan and Russia is [based on Japan's] wish to reverse a historic verdict which Russia is unable to [accept].

While dealing with a struggle for islands it makes sense for the quoted Chinese source to hint at Japan's navy, decided to further increase its power. At least, that's why a member of Japan's general staff is visiting the U.S. in order to test a brandnew and highly sophisticated MV-22 transport plane "Fish Hawk" (pictures below) for possible use in his navy. - Fish again !

日本军方高官将访美国欲试乖“鱼鹰”运输机

A high-ranking Japanese general is visiting the U.S. where he likes to test their [smart] "fish hawk" cargo plane.

Regarding the quarrel between Japan and South Korea after South Korean president Lee Myung-bak's unexpected visit to one of the disputed islands, there is another Chinese article on the island subject in the same August 17 edition of "chinanews.com":

韩国军警将多方阻止日本右翼登“独岛”意图

South Korea's military and police are taking manifold measures to prevent Japanese right-wing members from landing on "Solitary Island".

.....................................................................................

UPDATE for August 18, 2012:

As a warning to South Korea, the North Korean strongman Kim Jong Un has just visited an island that is being disputed between both countries. [Source: CNN on August 18, 2012]

.....................................................................................

UPDATE for August 19

Proceedings of an operation led by Japanese nationalists:

9名日本右翼人士登上钓鱼岛 包括日本国会议员

Nine Japanese right-wing members landed on Diaoyu Island, including [a] member of Japan's parliament.

According to People's Network, Beijing, 21 boats carrying 150 Japanese nationalists headed for Diaoyu Island on August 18. The group who call themselves "Troop for Relieving the Spirit 慰灵团" included eight members of Japan's parliament. On August 19, nine rightists finally landed on that island which was claimed by Hongkong activists only some days ago. The "inofficial" Chinese operation has raised diplomatic turmoil between both countries and triggered off the actual operation by Japanese nationalists.

Pictures below: Part of the flotilla and the group of successful "invaders".
[Source: People's Network on August 19]

China's official response after the landing of Japanese rightists on Diaoyu Island on August 19, 2012, has been made known by a spokesman of the foreign affairs ministry at a press conference in Beijing on the same day:

日本右翼分子的非法行径侵犯了中国领土主权。外交部负责人已向日本驻华大使提出严正交涉，表示强烈抗议，敦促日方停止损害中国领土主权的行动。

The illegal [act] of Japanese rightists is violating China's territorial sovereignty. A leading official from the ministry of foreign affairs has already undertaken a stern approach towards Japan's ambassador to China and [delivered] a strong protest, urging the Japanese side to stop [any] actions damaging China's territorial sovereignty.

.....................................................................................

Snapshots from Japan's NHK World boadcast on August 19:

Japanese activists climbing about Diaoyu Island which they know by its Japanese name Senkaku. It is the biggest one among some other maritime rocks which they call Senkaku Islands:

Anti-Japanese protest rising in Hongkong and China (above):
Chinese protesters carrying a portrait of Mao Tse Tung. Furious Chinese demonstrators in front of Japan's Guangzhou consulate toppling a police car. Rather quiet protest in front of Japan's Beijing embassy.

---

Visitor access points to "blueprint news" from South East Asia and East Asia (August 7-19, 2012):

A rare visitor to "blueprint news" from the oil producing Emirate of Brunei in North Borneo that is bordering the South China Sea:

A "splendid mixture" of identified visitors to "blueprint news" on August 17, 2012: