Chinese blockade Japanese ports

Could dispute over small islands lead to war in the Pacific?

TOKYO, Japan (RWN) - Tremors of fear ran through Japan today as the Chinese navy instituted a blockade of the island over a territorial dispute.

No traffic was able to go in or out of any of Japan's harbors as the virtually the entire Chinese navy sortied from its ports to block Japanese trade.

"I'm looking out my window now," wrote a blogger from Kyoto, and I can see a Chinese destroyer just standing off the harbor's mouth. No ships are leaving their piers."

The two countries have been fighting over energy production in the Spratly Islands, and in recent weeks the talks have grown increasingly tense. An armed Japanese energy survey team staked a claim over the disputed islands last year, leading to disputes with China, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam, all who had previously staked claims to the collection of reefs and small islands surrounded by oil and gas deposits.

The energy survey team was accompanied by a military expeditionary force, which has held the Chinese and Filipino military garrisons incommunicado since the takeover.

China initially made gestures towards war, but backed off, indicating it wanted to find a diplomatic response.

But the Japanese have refused to budge from their position, even with Chinese economic concessions.

"If the Japanese do not make some accommodation, I am afraid for the future," said Chinese Premier Jian Xu. "We have seen this behavior before with the Japanese, and it was called World War II."

The Chinese Navy's Sixth and Fourth Destroyer Flotillas were deployed around Japan's ports and the Chinese aircraft carrier Sun Yat Sen has been sent towards the Spratlys, Jian said.

In Tokyo, civilians made furious preparations for war, buying stores out of supplies such as water and canned food.

Akito Miyazahi, store manager of one of the largest grocery stores in Tokyo, said his place was a "crazy house."

"People are coming in and using their elbows to sweep foodstuffs into their carts."


Comments | Tell A Friend | Run for President