Readers' comments



probably, japanese and Emo, punk, anime loving kids in US and Europe will vote definitely while chinese everywhere will vote definitely not. :D


If the United States has promised to help Japan defend a group of uninhabited rocks, then we must honor our promise. But unless a strong case can be made that this security treaty is of mutual benefit to average US and Japanese citizens, I would prefer that we not renew this promise when the treaty duration elapses.

The ideal solution is for these rocks to be declared by Japan and China to be an undeveloped natural preseve, like Antarctica.

Paul C. Hennessey

Most of the world has little.if any.gratitude for whatever we do. I am not an isolationist but I yearn to watch the reaction if we did withdraw from most of our outside "interests'.We need to set ourselves straight before we commit to the other guy's issues.

Yura2009 in reply to pyrAmider

But the issue is not about the rocks, its about the waters around the rocks and their potential hydrocarbon resources deep in the seas. The UN Law of the Seas applies to any islands, everywhere.

Yura2009 in reply to Career Diplomat

The issue should be referred to the International Court of Justice that would be guided by international conventions, incl. the Law of the Sea. Let's not escallate this to the point of issuing ultimatums !


If the US doesn't protect the Japanese islets, we would kick out the US forces from Japan and we won't pay huge monetary help for the forces. And it will be the biggest fraud in history. But it may be a good chance that Japan protects itself with its forces.

US Patriot

The US has a treay to protect Japan from aggression. If US chooses to honor its treaty obligations selectively, then it's telling what kind of a friend US is.


Although if you say it out loud it sounds silly, I believe this protection is justified because it will make the Chinese government think twice before starting a potential war with Japan over the rocks. Preventing conflict between Asia's two most powerful countries is critical. The old defense pact is effectivly forcing the Chinese and Japanese to use diplomacy and not arms to solve their mutual disagreements.

tpgm in reply to tu23

what do you mean by saying that, America owes China huge money, so the debtor hates creditor to die as soon as possible. What is your logic? Is it sensible for American style of living?


I think America should let the two asian nations solve this issue by themselves. America has already put its fingers into too much mess.


Absolutely not! The US is NOT part of Asia, leave Asia to the Asians! Leave the Middle East to the Middle Easterners! We need to stop meddling in everyone else's politics. The White House has been occupied by either uber liberals like Obama and Hillary or neo-cons like Bush/Cheney. The liberals want to "do good and keep peace around the world", the neo-cons want to emphasize "America is still #1" and dominate the world, the end result is we continue to interfere in everyone else's politics, causing power imbalance and wreaking havoc in every region, and then we wonder why we are going bankrupt, and why everyone hates us!

Affan Kermani

I believe the US should promote a colaboration between China and Japan to work towards preserving the islands for the benefit of both countries and the world at large.

Terence Hale

Is America right to give Japan security guarantees over uninhabited rocks in the East China Sea? Yes, I think? America is in a dilemma, if it did not help Japan then Japan would rearm itself giving a “back to the future “situation. The danger from North Korea to Japan is probably a rocket that went astray rather than an act of aggression.



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