China, with 14 countries as neighbors, has more neighbors than any other country in the world. If you thought India had neighbor problems, imagine China's plight. And as if that were not enough, China also shares maritime boundaries with several countries.
China and its maritime neighbors have been squabbling over the China Sea for several years. The dispute over the China Sea has grabbed headlines in the last month because the Japanese government purchased one of the disputed islands from a private owner recently. Since then, there have been anti-Japan protests in China. China also sent in a warship to sail by the disputed island. One assumes the Chinese ship docked near the island and blasted their foghorn to sound out "fuzakeruna" in Morse code. (fuzakeruna = "piss off" in Japanese)
China and its maritime neighbors have been squabbling over the China Sea for several years. The dispute over the China Sea has grabbed headlines in the last month because the Japanese government purchased one of the disputed islands from a private owner recently. Since then, there have been anti-Japan protests in China. China also sent in a warship to sail by the disputed island. One assumes the Chinese ship docked near the island and blasted their foghorn to sound out "fuzakeruna" in Morse code. (fuzakeruna = "piss off" in Japanese)
Every country you see in the map above except Laos is making a claim on portions of the South China Sea. Japan is making a claim on a portion of the East China Sea. In some cases, there are overlapping claims so there are three or more countries fighting over the same space. What makes the Chinese claim special is that China claims all of the South China Sea for itself. China's stand is; its called the South China Sea for a reason.
China can steamroll its maritime neighbors in a one-on-one. Which is why all its neighbors have an alliance with the US; to balance the odds. This makes China cautious in its demands regarding the South China Sea.
But in the dispute over the East China Sea with Japan, China is unlikely to back down. Japan is an old enemy. Japan, along with Russia, Britain, France and the US, tormented China from 1800 to 1900. They made absurd territorial claims, attacked and subjugated the Chinese kingdom when their claims were rejected and demanded unfair trading & territorial concessions which hurt China enormously. The British were drug-lords, pushing the reluctant Chinese Emperor to accept Opium imports in exchange for tea, leading to large-scale Opium addiction in China. From 1900 to 1950, while the Western powers were caught up in other conflicts, the Japanese continued to torment China. Today, with the tables turned, with China a world power and Japan a reduced image of its former self, China will want to return the favor. It is also unlikely the Chinese will forget what the Western powers did. Though China was never colonized, arguably, it suffered more from colonial powers than any other country.
But in the dispute over the East China Sea with Japan, China is unlikely to back down. Japan is an old enemy. Japan, along with Russia, Britain, France and the US, tormented China from 1800 to 1900. They made absurd territorial claims, attacked and subjugated the Chinese kingdom when their claims were rejected and demanded unfair trading & territorial concessions which hurt China enormously. The British were drug-lords, pushing the reluctant Chinese Emperor to accept Opium imports in exchange for tea, leading to large-scale Opium addiction in China. From 1900 to 1950, while the Western powers were caught up in other conflicts, the Japanese continued to torment China. Today, with the tables turned, with China a world power and Japan a reduced image of its former self, China will want to return the favor. It is also unlikely the Chinese will forget what the Western powers did. Though China was never colonized, arguably, it suffered more from colonial powers than any other country.
This feud has parallels with the Mahabharatha. China is like Duryodhana and Karna rolled into one. Like Duryodhana, it believes it deserves to be the leading power in the world based on its long and rich history. Like Karna, it feels deeply wronged by the colonial powers. And based on its bitter experience with the colonial powers, it has formed a doctrine of offense; have standing claims beyond current boundaries at all times so the current boundaries are protected.
The other feuding countries are like the Pandavas; individually incapable of matching Duryodhana. But together, combined with Krishna's guile, better than Duryodhana and Karna.
The US, as always, is Krishna. Like Krishna, the US can do no wrong, while doing wrong. The US guarantees freedom only to its own citizens. Outside of the country, it freely supports dictators, rains bombs on civilians, kills thousands of people. The movie Black Hawk Down, tellingly demonstrates this. In the movie, thousands of Somalis die. But only when a US soldier dies does the background score turn to a soulful dirge. Hollywood, of course, sees no irony in playing a Somali sounding dirge when a US soldier dies.
The other feuding countries are like the Pandavas; individually incapable of matching Duryodhana. But together, combined with Krishna's guile, better than Duryodhana and Karna.
The US, as always, is Krishna. Like Krishna, the US can do no wrong, while doing wrong. The US guarantees freedom only to its own citizens. Outside of the country, it freely supports dictators, rains bombs on civilians, kills thousands of people. The movie Black Hawk Down, tellingly demonstrates this. In the movie, thousands of Somalis die. But only when a US soldier dies does the background score turn to a soulful dirge. Hollywood, of course, sees no irony in playing a Somali sounding dirge when a US soldier dies.
Like in the Mahabharatha, this is a fight over Dharma, with no clear good guys and baddies. It would help everyone to remember what happened at the end of the Mahabharatha. There are no victors at the end of a large-scale war. Only the dead and the repentant.
Over 32 lakh people were killed, and 8 remained including Krishna. No civilians & innocent were killed, no radiation problems, after war. All within a perimeter of 50 kms.
ReplyDeleteThat's Mahabharata.
Here, 32 lakh may not be killed, but sufficient damage to environment, and global economies will take place to ensure that more people across the world join the poorest category.
Is India insulated. ?