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September 12th, 2012

9/19/2012

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     Chinese top military newspaper accused Japan "of playing with fire", after Japan announced that it had purchased the group of disputed islands from the Japanese family it had previously leased it from and who had owned them since the 1970s. Called Senkapu in Japan and Diaoyu in China the islands are near rich fishing grounds and potentially huge gas fields and are located in the East China Sea. The Japanese Coast Guard will administer the islands.
     The Chinese have sent two patrol ships to reassert its claims, and the Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba has repeated the line that the purchase served " peaceful and stable maintenance of the islands" and that " we cannot damage the stable develpoment of the Japan-China relationship because of that issue. Both nations need to act calmly"
     T he Chinese defence ministry spokesman replied, accusing Japan of " using all kinds of excuses to expand its armaments and repeatedly creating regional tensions".
     This is happening at a time when the Chinses are very concerned with their economy which is slowing down. Japan is a key eceonmic partner and China will not want to act in a way that jeopardises this relationship ( perhaps this is the very reason that Japan has acted at this time) They are also in the midst of their once-in a decade leadership change and the fact that the heir-apparent has not been seen for a while, even postponing a meeting with Hillary Clinton ( whether it is illness or a behind -the scene struggle for power)is causing concern. 
     The Chinses will not back down and Japan is sending its Asia department chief to Beijing for talks to "avoid misunderstanding and lack of explanation on the issue".
     Its touch and go and neither side want to lose face. Both sides are fiercely proud of their territorial integrity and sovreignity and that's why this is troublesome. Also China has other disputed territorial claims in the South Chima Sea and will not want to be seen as weak and compromising. Interesting times. 

             Update...19/9/12

     The past week has seen continued protest across China and this has raised economic fears. Trade between these two economic giants, which is worth $340 billion is being affected and this is good for neither the skaky Japanese economy or the slowing Chinese. China exported $148.3 billion to Japan and imported $194.6 billion worth of goods from Japan. While both countries are heavily dependent on trade with each other, Japan stands to lose more. The Chinese who are going through their 10 year leadership change cannot afford any additional pressure on its economy.
     The protests have resulted in many Japanese firms, like Toyota, Honda, Panasonic etc. closing down operations. This cannot be allowed to last. Neither countries can afford this but cultural values and historic wrongs (this is the anniversary of the brutal Japanese  occupation of the 1930s), have caused emotions to run high. The next week will be important in determining the real effects.   
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    fig 2-b My Father and Mother to whom I owe everything

    "Ecce Homo"  ("Behold the Man"), Antonio Ciseri's depiction of Pontius Pilate presenting a scourged Jesus to the people of Jerusalem.

    fig 1-b


    figure 1-a

    F. Goya
    Two men fighting with clubs
    circa 1819-1823

    The Black Paintings Period


    (Fig 2a) The Death of Innocents


    Author

     Ishwar R. Prashad recently retired from over 47 years of teaching.

    He taught Political Science variously at Dawson College, Loyola College, Algoma University College, Sir George Williams University, Concordia University and Vanier College.

    Previously, he taught for nine years in Port Mourant, Guyana.


    He became Principal of Corentyne Comprehensive High School at the tender age of 21. During this time he turned down Scholarship offers to study overseas in England and the U.S.S.R.

    He chose Canada and after graduating from Sir George Williams with a B.A Honours with Distinction, he accepted a Fellowship to complete his graduate work at McMaster University. He completed his first two degrees-Bachelors and Masters- in three years.  

    His last position was as Co-Ordinator of Political Science and Economics at Vanier College and Adjunct Professor of Political Science at Concordia University.

    He is married to the former Juliet Ramcharan (Library Supervisor, McGill University) and together they have three children – Indra R. Prashad, P.Eng. ,McGill (Presently Manager, Ontario Safe Water Drinking Agency), Ishwar R. Prashad Jr., B.A ,McGill (Presently, President, Kismit Gear Inc.) and Rabindra Y. Prashad, (Presently, Artist and Chef).They are the proud Grandparents of eight grandchildren-Miranda, Kamal, Ayesha, Élan, Anĵa , Étienne, Chloé, and Jasmine.

     

     

     





     



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