Japan's war planes F-15 fighter jets against a Chinese suveilance plane over Diaoyu Islands

This handout picture taken by the Japan Coast Guard on Thursday shows a Chinese government plane flying near the Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea. Japan scrambled fighter jets after the Chinese plane entered airspace over the islands at the center of a dispute between Tokyo and Beijing. Photo: AFP

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Thursday that it is "normal" for a Chinese marine surveillance plane to patrol the airspace over the Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea, prompting Japan to scramble fighter jets to the area.



According to a statement on the website of the State Oceanic Administration (SOA), China's Haijian B-3837 aircraft reached the airspace over the Diaoyu Islands at 10 am Thursday, joining the flotilla of marine surveillance ships Haijian-50, Haijian-46, Haijian-66 and Haijian-137 to patrol the area.

The SOA said that during the patrol, the flotilla stated the Chinese government's position on the islets to the Japanese vessels, demanding they leave the area. On its website, it also posted two photos of the islands shot from the airplane.

The aircraft is a twin-engine propeller plane used for surveillance or monitoring of fishing activities.

The incident prompted Japan's military to scramble eight F-15 fighter jets, Japan's Defense Ministry said. Japanese officials later said the Chinese aircraft had left the area, Reuters reported.

The Japanese Defense Ministry said it was the first time that a Chinese plane had entered "Japanese airspace" since Japan started recording similar incidents in 1958, Kyodo News reported. Japan later protested to China over the incident.

China's foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a regular press briefing Thursday that it's normal for China's marine surveillance planes to fly in the airspace over the Diaoyu Islands, as Diaoyu Island and its affiliated islets are China's inherent territory.

"China demands Japan stop its illegal activities in the waters and airspace of the Diaoyu Islands," Hong stated.

Han Zhiqiang, charge d'affaires at the Chinese embassy in Tokyo, said China hadn't accepted the Japanese side's diplomatic representation over the incident, the China News Service reported.

Liu Jiangyong, a vice dean of the Institute of Modern International Relations at Tsinghua University, told the Global Times that after the US handed Okinawa over to Japan in 1972, Tokyo brought the Diaoyu Islands into its Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).

"Sending a plane to the area was a breakthrough in terms of challenging Japan's ADIZ, which was arbitrarily drawn up by Tokyo a long time ago," said Liu, noting that the struggle over the Diaoyu Islands would enter a new phase following China's success in carrying out routine patrols in the waters of the islets.

Liu also highlighted the increasing risk in terms of conflicts brought about by air confrontations.

Related post:

75th anniversary of Nanjing massacre

75th anniversary of Nanjing massacre

History of Nanjing Massacre





December the 13th marks the 75th anniversary of the Nanjing Massacre. A series of official memorials have been held in the eastern China city to commemorate the estimated 300 thousand Chinese killed by Japanese troops during World War Two.

An unforgettable part of history for Chinese people.

Sirens wailed in the chilling morning... Nanjing was in grief as people from across the city, and the world, gathered here to mourn the estimated 300,000 lives taken by Japanese troops 75 years ago.

During World War Two, the Japanese army invaded almost half of China, causing tens of millions of casualties and devestating cities and towns. The then Chinese capital, Nanjing, suffered six weeks of murder and rape.

Every year, the siren rings here in front of the memorial museum, reminding the city of the nightmare in 1937.
On December 9th that year, after securing control of Shanghai, Japanese troops launched a massive attack upon Nanjing. Four days later, the city fell.

In the following six weeks, the Japanese forces engaged in an orgy of murder, rape, looting and arson that came to be known as the Nanjing Massacre.

Chinese and Western eyewitness accounts have documented the crimes. On December 19th, Reverend James McCallum wrote in his diary:

"I know not where to end. Never I have heard or read such brutality. Rape! Rape! Rape! We estimate at least one thousand cases a night, and many by day. In case of resistance or anything that seems like disapproval, there is a bayonet stab or a bullet. People are hysterical... The whole Japanese army seems to be free to go and come as it pleases, and to do whatever it pleases."

The International Military Tribunal of the Far East, also known as the Tokyo Trials, estimated more than 200-thousand people had died in the Nanjing Massacre. Most experts put that number at about 300-thousand.

Japanese newspaper covered one of the most notorious atrocities... a killing contest between two Japanese officers. Toshiaki Mukai and Tsuyoshi Noda competed to be the first to kill 100 people with a sword.

Although today the Japanese government has admitted to the killings, some Japanese nationalist groups deny these events ever took place.

There are misunderstandings of this history, we want to tell the world the right facts. He says.

Many Japanese prime ministers have visited the Yasukuni Shrine, a shrine for Japanese soldiers who died during World War 2. These include the criminals of the Nanjing Massacre. To this day, the tragedy of Nanjing continues to be a stumbling block in Japan’s relations with other Asian nations.

The memorial was held at a square in front of the memorial hall for the Chinese victims massacred by Japanese soldiers. The crowd mourned the dead and presented wreaths.

A citizen representative read the Nanjing Peace Declaration.

Citizen representative, Nanjing city, said,"Peace rather than war, development rather than poverty, cooperation rather than confrontation is the eternal theme of human civilization and progress."

The mourners included local school children, college students, survivors of the massacre and international friends.

The Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall is an important reminder of the past and a place to mourn the dead.

By recalling the past, the memorial also conveys Chinese people’s wishes for peace with all nations in the world.

Related post:
Philippines wants rearmed Japan to contain China
Japan ministers visit Tokyo war shrine amid anger from China, S. Korea.19 Oct 2012

News for 75th anniversary of Nanjing massacre

1. The Nanjing Massacre: Scenes from a Hideous Slaughter 75 Years Ago

     13, 1937, Japanese troops captured the city of Nanjing, then the capital of ... Then and now, the Nanjing massacre remains one of the darkest ...

End of Pax Americana

The report "Global Trends 2030: Alternative Worlds" forecast that US economic and international influence will decline in the next two decades as a shift of global power moves from the West to the East, and from the North to the South. Photo by gt2030.com

In a new report, the US National Intelligence Council predicts the winding down of "Pax Americana" and China's ascent as the world's top economy by 2030.

On Monday, the report "Global Trends 2030: Alternative Worlds" forecast that US economic and international influence will decline in the next two decades as a shift of global power moves from the West to the East, and from the North to the South.

Meanwhile, rising states such as China, India and other Asian nations will contribute an increasingly large share of global financial growth.

"With the rapid rise of other countries, the 'unipolar moment' is over, and 'Pax Americana' -- the era of American ascendancy in international politics that began in 1945 -- is fast winding down," the report states.

The report is largely optimistic about technological and economic advances in the next two decades. The numbers of people living in poverty is likely to drop sharply in East and South Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, with sub-Saharan Africa lagging behind.

"Under most scenarios -- except the most dire -- significant strides in reducing extreme poverty will be achieved by 2030," the report notes.

The report gives a list of eight "Black Swan" scenarios - a reference to Nassim Nicholas Taleb's book "Black Swan," which posits that history is built on unforeseeable, surprise events.

1. Severe Pandemic

"No one can predict which pathogen will be the next to start spreading to humans, or when or where such a development will occur," the report says. "Such an outbreak could result in millions of people suffering and dying in every corner of the world in less than six months."

2. Much More Rapid Climate Change

"Dramatic and unforeseen changes already are occurring at a faster rate than expected. Most scientists are not confident of being able to predict such events. Rapid changes in precipitation patterns—such as monsoons in India and the rest of Asia -- could sharply disrupt that region's ability to feed its population."

3. Euro/EU collapse

If Greece were to leave the euro zone in an unruly way, it could result in eight times the collateral damage as the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy, which could lead to a broader crisis in the EU in the future, the report says.

4. A Democratic or Collapsed China

"China is slated to pass the threshold of US,000 per capita purchasing power parity (PPP) in the next five years or so—a level that is often a trigger for democratization," the report notes. "Chinese 'soft' power could be dramatically boosted, setting off a wave of democratic movements. Alternatively, many experts believe a democratic China could also become more nationalistic. An economically collapsed China would trigger political unrest and shock the global economy."

5. A Reformed Iran

"A more liberal regime could come under growing public pressure to end the international sanctions and negotiate an end to Iran's isolation. An Iran that dropped its nuclear weapons aspirations and became focused on economic modernization would bolster the chances for a more stable Middle East."

6. Nuclear War or WMD/ Cyber Attack

"Nuclear powers such as Russia and Pakistan and potential aspirants such as Iran and North Korea see nuclear weapons as compensation for other political and security weaknesses, heightening the risk of their use. The chance of nonstate actors conducting a cyber attack—or using WMD (weapon of mass destruction) —also is increasing."

7. Solar Geomagnetic Storms

"Solar geomagnetic storms could knock out satellites, the electric grid, and many sensitive electronic devices. The recurrence intervals of crippling solar geomagnetic storms, which are less than a century, now pose a substantial threat because of the world's dependence on electricity," the report says.

8. U.S. Disengagement

"A collapse or sudden retreat of US power probably would result in an extended period of global anarchy; no leading power would be likely to replace the United States as guarantor of the international order."

Related post:
 Funding a foreign agenda

North Korea confirms successful satellite launch

Official media of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Wednesday confirmed that the country successfully launched and orbited an earth observation satellite.

"The successful launch of the satellite is a proud fruition of the Workers' Party of Korea's policy of attaching importance to science and technology," said news agency KCNA.

The success serves "as an event of great turn in developing the country's science, technology and economy by fully exercising its independent right to use space for peaceful purposes," it added.

According to the KCNA, a Unha-3 rocket carrying the second version of the Kwangmyongsong-3 satellite blasted off from the Sohae Space Center in Cholsan County, North Phyongan Province, at 09:49:46 local time (0049 GMT).

The satellite, said the KCNA, entered its preset orbit 9 minutes and 27 seconds after the lift-off, and then started going round the polar orbit at 499.7 km perigee altitude and 584.18 km apogee altitude at the angle of inclination of 97.4 degrees, with a cycle of 95 minutes and 29 seconds.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of late President Kim Il Sung, and this month marks the first anniversary of the demise of late leader Kim Jong Il.

Int'l Reactions

	China "regrets" DPRK's satellite launch China regrets the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) satellite launch amid the "universal" concern of the international community, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Wednesday.
	White House reacts to DPRK launch White House spokesman Tommy Vietor says US condemns the launch as a "highly provocative act" in direct violation of UN resolutions and vows to work with international partners to seek "appropriate action" against Pyongyang.
	Russia voices regret over DPRK's rocket launch Russia on Wednesday expressed "deep regret" over the rocket launch by DPRK, saying the move violated a UN Security Council resolution.
	S.Korea's Lee convene security meeting following DPRK's rocket launch South Korea strongly condemned North Korea’s rocket launch, saying that it violated a UN resolution and sent Aegis destroyers to trace the rocket.
	Japan strongly protests against DPRK's satellite launch Japan on Wednesday strongly protested against a satellite launch by DPRK, saying the launch was "unacceptable" and violates the United Nations' relative resolutions.
	Philippines "strongly condemns" DPRK rocket launching The Philippine government on Wednesday "strongly condemns" DPRK's rocket launching, saying that it violated an UN resolution.
	New Zealand condemns DPRK satellite launch The New Zealand government Wednesday condemned the launch of a satellite using long-range ballistic missile technology by DPRK.

Latest News

Russia voices regret over DPRK's rocket launch

Russia on Wednesday expressed "deep regret" over the rocket launch by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), saying the move violated a UN Security Council resolution.

DPRK succeeds in satellite launch, draws protests

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Wednesday successfully launched and orbited a satellite, the official news agency KCNA reported.

S&P says DPRK rocket launch has no material impact on S. Korea's sovereign ratings

The rocket launch of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) will have no material impact on South Korea's sovereign ratings, global credit rating agency Standard & Poor's said Wednesday.

DPRK's rocket launch has little impact on S. Korean financial market

The planned long-range rocket launch of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) had little impact on the South Korean financial market as the launch was pre- announced, market watchers said Wednesday.

DPRK confirms successful satellite launch

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Wednesday successfully launched a Kwangmyongsong-3 satellite, the official news agency KCNA reported. .

No debris fell into Japan's territory: Japan's govt

The Japanese government said Wednesday that no debris fell into Japan's territory after a rocket launch by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

DPRK launches long-range rocket, first stage falls into Yellow Sea: report

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) fired off a long-range rocket mounted with a satellite Wednesday, defying expectations that technical problems might delay the mission that drew international attention.

By Agencies

HSBC Bank fined $1.92 billion for money laundering

British banking giant HSBC agreed to pay a record $1.92 billion settlement Tuesday after a broad investigation by U.S. federal and state authorities found the bank violated federal laws by laundering money from Mexican drug trafficking and processing banned transactions on behalf of Iran, Libya, Sudan and Burma

HSBC has agreed to pay $1.92 billion to settle a US money laundering probe. The British bank is alleged to have allowed clients with links to drug trafficking and terrorism to move money. 

The two sides reached a $1.92 billion (1.48 billion euros) settlement Tuesday, HSBC said.

"HSBC has reached an agreement with the United States authorities in relation to investigations regarding inadequate compliance with anti-money laundering and sanction laws," the bank said in a statement.

The settlement includes a five-year deferred prosecution agreement with the US Justice Department, which allows a subject under investigation to avoid prosecution if it meets conditions, such as paying fines.

Prosecutors had accused HSBC of allowing improper financial transfers from countries including Mexico, Iran and Saudi Arabia by clients linked to international crime, including drug trafficking and terrorism.

The bank apologized soon after, and acknowledged the firm lacked controls to prevent money laundering.

'Profoundly sorry'

"We accept responsibility for our past mistakes. We have said we are profoundly sorry for them, and we do so again," said group chief executive Stuart Gulliver in a statement.

"We are committed to protecting the integrity of the global financial system. To this end we will continue to work closely with governments and regulators around the world," Gulliver said.

HSBC's announcement comes one day after another British bank, Standard Chartered, agreed to pay some $327 million (253 million euros) to settle charges it violated US sanctions by channelling money to clients in Iran and Sudan.

dr/msh (AFP, dpa, AP)

Related:
Citigroup to sack more than 11,000 jobs