A storm of outrage

The Japanese Coast Guard fires water cannon at an unarmed ship from Taiwan. The reason: the fishers allegedly attempted to illegally approach the Senkaku Islands (Diaoyu in Chinese) in the East China Sea. China, Taiwan and Japan all claim sovereignty over the uninhabited island group.

Japanese nationalists use the dispute to demand a hard line against arch-rival China. The right-wing populists want to build warehouses on the uninhabited islands to cement Japan's claims. The true motive: rich oil and natural gas deposits are assumed to exist in the surrounding waters.

In 2012, Japanese security forces demonstrated their sovereignty on Uotsuri, the largest of the Senkaku / Diaoyu Islands, ahead of the 40th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between the Japan and China. Beijing responded by canceling ceremonies and dispatching patrol boasts. Japan aims to establish an armed presence on the islands with 600 soldiers and 12 speedboats.

Japan's stance on the islands triggered a chain of demonstrations. Young nationalist Chinese took to the streets to protest, burning flags and calling for war against Japan. The general public perception of Japan in China is negative anyway; Japan has not apologized for the war crimes it committed in World War II.

Protesters tried to storm the highly guarded Japanese Embassy in Beijing in the late summer of 2012. The governments in Tokyo and Beijing showed no willingness to compromise and do not rule out military intervention.

The government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) also lays claim to the disputed archipelago. Protests in front of the Japanese consulate in Taipei escalated after activists were hindered by the Japanese coast guard from entering the Senkaku / Diaoyo Islands. Banners called for Japan to apologize for World War II and compensate war victims.

Tempers rose in Hong Kong after 12 activists and two journalists were arrested by Japanese security forces for attempting to enter the islands. Demonstrators demanded their immediate release in front of the Japanese consulate. The incident triggered a series of diplomatic escalations. The activists and journalists were released after negotiations.

China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Vietnam lay claim to several island groups. Again, it's about oil, natural gas and fishing rights.

Angry Vietnamese took to the streets in December 2012 to demand the release of fishermen who had been detained by Chinese authorities and also that China decrease its activity near the contested islands.

In May 2012, the Chinese state-owned energy giant CNOOC set up an oil rig in the South China Sea, some 320 kilometers away from Hong Kong. Wang Yilin, chairman of CNOOC, referred to the rig as a "mobile territory" of China and a "strategic weapon" to drive the development of oil production at sea.

The Philippines also views the enlargement of the Chinese military's sphere of influence with great skepticism. The government in Manila feels especially concerned about fishing rights. Here, the vice admiral of the Philippine Navy shows photos of Chinese patrol boats. The Philippines wants to negotiate with China but is also prepared to "fight for its territory!"

The Philippines resents Chinese expansion at its doorstep even though the country is aware that resistance to the major regional power is hopeless. As a last resort, Manila has already turned to the UN for help. But a viable concept is not expected.