Anti-Japan protests raise doubts over Chinese government's control(LOSING IT?)

Financial Times ^ | 04/17/05 | Geoff Dyer

[Drammach]

The marches also come days after an extraordinary riot in a south-eastern village in Zheijiang province, where locals protesting against environmental damage took control of the village from the police. Rural protests run into the thousands every year.

Maybe two factions, maybe just an oppurtunity to vent some frustration..
When reading the article concerning the riot referenced above, one of the villagers was quoted concerning the anti-japanese demonstrations, and he said basically that some of those demonstrators were simply using the "approved" protests to vent their hostilities.. the real cause for venting was the Chinese Government and their policies..

But when you can get "points" for rioting in one demonstration and get shot for rioting in the other, logic says, go with the approved demonstration..
The bottles throw the same.

[massgopguy]

Listening to Roger H. sitting in for Rush. The Japanese had agreed to enforce the Taiwan Relations Act in concert with the U.S.

[hinckley buzzard]

It is possible that Chinese regime is not in full control.

I guess it depends on what you mean by "control." During the "Great Cultural Revolution," hordes of fanatics waving Mao's "little red book" ran amok throughout the land and devastated what had passed for civil order. Then it all went away and, despite all the snarling and gnashing of teeth, nothing much had changed.

[TapTheSource]

Please, the chicoms are completely behind the protests and the riots.

[Mase]

The Japanese had agreed to enforce the Taiwan Relations Act in concert with the U.S.

I think Roger is right on with his assessment that this about the Senkaku islands and who will own the gas and mineral rights but, more importantly, who will control the waters that the 7th fleet would need to travel through to defend Taiwan - should that ever be necessary.

Giving China the ability to map the oceans in that area would give their new submarine force the opportunity to attack our fleet as they made way to Taiwan.

His most interesting point was that the US is doing nothing to help Japan and is remaining fairly quiet on the anti-Japanese protests. It's time for Japan to abolish the article (#9?) in their constitution prohibiting them from developing an offensive military force. Our silence, along with increasing Chinese nationalism, just might help this process along.

A heavily armed Japan will serve to contain China and their rabid pet dog, North Korea. It will also give them something to do with all those dollars they're holding and would be a boon for our armament industries. Might even help stimulate their domestic economy.