Taiwan plan could peacefully resolve East China Sea dispute

By V.C. Chu

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Feb 11, 2013

~~<p>Nicholas Kristof, the renowned columnist, spoke the truth when he wrote last September: "Tensions have erupted over some barren rocks in the Pacific that you may never have heard of, but stay tuned — this is a boundary dispute that could get ugly and some day have far-reaching consequences for China, Japan, Taiwan and the United States."</p>
<p>The longstanding territorial dispute over the Diauyutai Islands flared when the Japanese government bought three of the islets on Sept. 11, 2012, from their private owner in an attempt to reinforce its sovereignty claim over the Diaoyutais, known as "Senkaku" to the Japanese. In response, Chinese patrol ships, utility aircraft and even jet fighters have patrolled the disputed island cluster on many occasions.</p>
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Nicholas Kristof, the renowned columnist, spoke the truth when he wrote last September: "Tensions have erupted over some barren rocks in the Pacific that you may never have heard of, but stay tuned — this is a boundary dispute that could get ugly and some day have far-reaching consequences for China, Japan, Taiwan and the United States."

The longstanding territorial dispute over the Diauyutai Islands flared when the Japanese government bought three of the islets on Sept. 11, 2012, from their private owner in an attempt to reinforce its sovereignty claim over the Diaoyutais, known as "Senkaku" to the Japanese. In response, Chinese patrol ships, utility aircraft and even jet fighters have patrolled the disputed island cluster on many occasions. Login for more...