Joint Pressure on China

Might the news have shaken China? Nikkei reported that Japan and the United States force are preparing a joint operations planning by this summer. The operation includes possible contingency operation around the Senkaku Islands, where Chinese official vessels keep on invading Japanese territory. The government of China made an immediate response to that, saying that it held significant concern to the joint action. This quickness showed the sensitivity of China to US involvement in disputes over territories in Asia- Pacific region.

Different from joint operation for situations in areas surrounding Japan, in which Japan owes logistical support for US, the joint operation planning over Senkaku contingency is based on self-defense right of Japan. US will join the operation of defending Japan, according to the Article V of Japan-US Security Treaty, in which US has a duty to protect Japan. As Nikkei reported, the planning includes Japan’s supply for US force, listing of port and airport for US use and listing of hospitals for caring the injured. It also determines how to take back Senkaku Islands from Chinese capture.

“Any external pressure cannot shake the determination of Chinese nation and government to preserve our territory and sovereignty,” told the deputy spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in China, Hong Lei. “The government of China has a capability to protect our territory and sovereignty,” he added.

It is current tendency of China to be nervous about US intervention in the troubles between China and its neighbor countries. After the confrontation between China and Philippine over the Scarborough Shoal last year, China was extremely worried about the joint military exercise by Philippine and US. It also criticized Philippine request for US patrol over South China Sea by surveillance aircrafts, P3C. Some experts in Japan suppose that this involvement of US in South China Sea shifted Chinese interest from Philippine and Vietnam to Japan, namely Senkaku Issue.

It is imaginable that China is highly frustrated with US engagement to the Japan-US alliance. Although it is not sure that US involvement drew a sense of compromise, the attitude of China seems to be softened these few days. In a meeting with Japanese top businessmen, Chinese Vice-President, Li Yuanchao, revealed his recognition that Senkaku issue has been affecting trade, travel, economic exchange between China and Japan. “This abnormal relationship is not beneficial for both countries. This leads to cutting each other’s throat,” Li reportedly warned. The President, Xi Jinping, chose Russia for his first overseas trip. With criticisms against Japanese administration on Senkaku, Xi reiterated Chinese right over those islands. But those words of top leaders indicate Chinese disturbance over the security situation around it.