The dispute has arrived at such a stage where finding a solution seems
to be a difficult and distant enterprise. Besides, the US National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013, which specifies that the
Diaoyu Islands are subject to the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and
Security between the United States and Japan, has escalated the
bilateral tensions.
The US doesn't want to grant any legitimacy to China over the Diaoyu Islands dispute, and therefore openly supports the current Japanese control over the islands and endorses its bilateral treaty with Japan over security matters.
Yet Beijing's claim that a war may break out if Japan seeks US support remains quite infantile.
True, the US-Japan understanding over security matters with regard to the islands has certainly made the issue more complicated. Yet, China must not lose its patience, and shouldn't overreact to the tense situation by threatening war.
Beijing can take a serious note that any aggressive stance over the island dispute will further escalate the tensions.
The current dispute needs more dialogue and engagement than anything else. Beijing must aim and plan for diplomatic efforts with Japan, which will make the dispute remain "bilateral" rather than become a regional or global issue.
China must take note of the fact that although the islands are currently under Japanese control, there is a wide acknowledgement of the Chinese claim at both the regional and international level.
If Beijing decides to carry out an attack against Japan, China would lose massive amounts of support, and it would fuel the "China threat" theory. Given China's troubled relations with neighboring Southeast Asian countries, Beijing must carefully articulate its view and claim, without really pushing hard for a war.
Beijing must also take note of the fact that a number of countries, including India, are watching the conflict seriously.
Given the rivalries in Asia, the dispute may encourage other regional powers to take an open stance over the issue. This will be an important development, given that other island disputes still persist between China and Southeast Asian countries.
In principle, India will restrict itself in taking any open stance or commenting much over the dispute.
Indeed, India's official stance is that the Diaoyu Islands dispute should be resolved "peacefully" between Japan and China. However, India's strategic and original posture over the issue is rather different from its officially stated views.
The predominant strategic view in India would like to see the dispute go in favor of Japan rather than China.
This is linked to the earlier Chinese reservation toward India's oil exploration in the South China Sea and, more importantly, the rising Indian interests in the neighboring Southeast Asian region.
Though New Delhi will refrain from taking any position, India still favors Japan.
This is primarily for two reasons. India-Japan relations are far better than India-China relations, and India doesn't want to lose Japan as a regional strategic ally by taking an "anti-Japan" stance.
China has been a problem for India and other Southeast Asian countries on the South China Sea issue. So India's pro-Japanese views can further endorse India's stake in the South China Sea, where Japan and Southeast Asian countries like Vietnam and the Philippines will back India and its interests in the region.
The island dispute is really a complicated matter, but it still remains a bilateral issue between China and Japan. China must think wisely and start a proper dialogue mechanism with Japan, to reduce tensions and try to find a solution.
India's principal stance is that the dispute should be kept a bilateral one, without interference from outside powers like the US, and can be ultimately resolved within the framework of international law.
The US doesn't want to grant any legitimacy to China over the Diaoyu Islands dispute, and therefore openly supports the current Japanese control over the islands and endorses its bilateral treaty with Japan over security matters.
Yet Beijing's claim that a war may break out if Japan seeks US support remains quite infantile.
True, the US-Japan understanding over security matters with regard to the islands has certainly made the issue more complicated. Yet, China must not lose its patience, and shouldn't overreact to the tense situation by threatening war.
Beijing can take a serious note that any aggressive stance over the island dispute will further escalate the tensions.
The current dispute needs more dialogue and engagement than anything else. Beijing must aim and plan for diplomatic efforts with Japan, which will make the dispute remain "bilateral" rather than become a regional or global issue.
China must take note of the fact that although the islands are currently under Japanese control, there is a wide acknowledgement of the Chinese claim at both the regional and international level.
If Beijing decides to carry out an attack against Japan, China would lose massive amounts of support, and it would fuel the "China threat" theory. Given China's troubled relations with neighboring Southeast Asian countries, Beijing must carefully articulate its view and claim, without really pushing hard for a war.
Beijing must also take note of the fact that a number of countries, including India, are watching the conflict seriously.
Given the rivalries in Asia, the dispute may encourage other regional powers to take an open stance over the issue. This will be an important development, given that other island disputes still persist between China and Southeast Asian countries.
In principle, India will restrict itself in taking any open stance or commenting much over the dispute.
Indeed, India's official stance is that the Diaoyu Islands dispute should be resolved "peacefully" between Japan and China. However, India's strategic and original posture over the issue is rather different from its officially stated views.
The predominant strategic view in India would like to see the dispute go in favor of Japan rather than China.
This is linked to the earlier Chinese reservation toward India's oil exploration in the South China Sea and, more importantly, the rising Indian interests in the neighboring Southeast Asian region.
Though New Delhi will refrain from taking any position, India still favors Japan.
This is primarily for two reasons. India-Japan relations are far better than India-China relations, and India doesn't want to lose Japan as a regional strategic ally by taking an "anti-Japan" stance.
China has been a problem for India and other Southeast Asian countries on the South China Sea issue. So India's pro-Japanese views can further endorse India's stake in the South China Sea, where Japan and Southeast Asian countries like Vietnam and the Philippines will back India and its interests in the region.
The island dispute is really a complicated matter, but it still remains a bilateral issue between China and Japan. China must think wisely and start a proper dialogue mechanism with Japan, to reduce tensions and try to find a solution.
India's principal stance is that the dispute should be kept a bilateral one, without interference from outside powers like the US, and can be ultimately resolved within the framework of international law.
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