Japanese and Chinese airspace tension grows.

CNN ^

[MARKUSPRIME]

Japanese fighter jets have been scrambled 30 times to turn away Chinese planes approaching Japan's airspace in the last six months, more than twice the 13 times in the same period last year, officials have said. The increased defensive posture reflects the growing tensions between Japan and China, which are squabbling over interpretations of their wartime past, undersea gas deposits, and ownership of East China Sea islands.

[MARKUSPRIME]

I hope the Japanese blow them out of the sky. Looks like China and Russia are probing Japans defenses. We have to support Japan fully they are the worlds second richest economy, they are a modern democracy and a very high tech society. I tire of the China/Russian threat.

[yldstrk]

It won't be long now...

[Joe Boucher]

Japan is like so many other allies, doing just enough to keep th U.S. at its side in case the big dog next door gets excited. In this case the big dog is China.
In any other time, Japan is bitching about American troops in Okinawa etc.

[Jeff Head]

The Chinese are testing and gathering data. I would be interested in knowing what types of aircraft the Japanese are scrambling to inertcept. If it starts to be the new SU-30s the Chinese are buying, or their export license built J-11's (SU-27s), then that would be even more indication of this IMHO.

[doc30]

In any other time, Japan is bitching about American troops in Okinawa etc.

It is a love/hate relationship. The military presence on Okinawa is a mixed blessing, but the locals do not care for the behavior of the U.S. servicemen. The Japanese have a very strong sense of respect and politeness that would drive the average American nuts if they had to live that way. the japanese overall value friendship with the U.S., but they do not accept certain aspects of American culture.

[mad puppy]

Japan, China, Russia, Taiwan
Israel, Iran
US, Iraq
France, ? themselves?
Islam, the planet.

Not sure who is going to take a swing at who first, but once the $hit starts, all the simmering tension is going to erupt.

[Joe Boucher]

Understandable as the U.S. service members like most Americans feel that our culture leads the world.
Oh yeah, our culture spread by our movies and t.v. do lead the culture world. Not a lot of Japaneese culture taking the U.S. by storm.
They like France have problems with what they see of our culture overtaking theirs.
Oh yeah, in my personal opinion, much of our culture is crap too.