[Don Corleone]

A game of chicken between countries over some worthless islands.

They are not worthless. The ocean around them is oil rich.

[GreyFriar]

Don,

You are thinking of the South China Sea area and the Spratly Islands, near the Philippines. See my post # 12. and this fairly accurate Wikipedia article http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Territorial_disputes_in_the_South_China_Sea

Although there may very well be oil in the East China Sea as well, I believe this is more of China moving it’s “border” several hundred miles to the east

[American Constitutionalist]

Kinda makes the liberals propaganda “ No Blood for oil “ when the USA goes to war for oil a mote point since Japan and China need that much important commodity.
It's only " Bad " when the USA needs it.