[Bald Eagle777]

I meant to post this earlier. The move on the part of Japan taking formal custody of the Senkaku islands on Feb. 9 is extremely significant for a number of reasons. Japan is trying to bring closure to China's "dispute" of the ownership of these islands and is taking a calculated risk that China will back off on its claims. Japan's deploying Coast Guard assets demonstrates that it is serious in asserting its control over the Senkakus and is willing to escalate the situation should China be persistent. Most importantly from an energy standpoint, it is assumed that oil and gas reserves are in the immediate vicinity. Both China and Japan are net importers of oil and their geopolitical and energy interests are clearly at odds in this arena.

As long as China's demand for energy increases, expect China to aggressively pursue oil and other energy sources from all available sources with reckless abandon, even if that means that this strategy will bring its government and diplomatic corps (and quite possibly its military) with its immediate neighbors and distant "competitors" (ie: the U.S.).

Watch China as they continue their aggressive drive to locate new sources of oil for their insatiable energy needs. Fishing rights, encroachment on neighbors fishing territories and hydroelectric power issues are yet another divisive issues above and beyond oil, gas and “disputed” territory issues, which only add more stress to what is increasingly becoming a tense situation.

Eventually, this will bring them headlong into a military conflict in my final and considered analysis. The pattern of Chinese subs patrolling waters in disputed regions (and in sensitive areas) needs to be watched with an extreme degree of alertness.

[Irish_Thatcherite]

Ping to self for later.

[BenLurkin]

SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0486255093/103-0225074-9652669





Generalissimo, (please ask Frank G- & Mr. H- to discuss Mahan someday!)

[NATIVEDAUGHTER]

While our Middle-East Obsessed Chief Executive keeps chasing towel-heads the real danger is coming from much nearer....