China officially claims sovereignty over Diaoyu Island Options

[Liang1a]

http://english.people.com.cn/90883/7947123.html

New measures over Diaoyu just start
(Global Times)09:08, September 13, 2012

The Chinese government announced Monday the official baseline for the territorial waters of the Diaoyu Islands and then covered the Diaoyu Islands in domestic weather forecasts Tuesday. These moves were a response to Japan's aim of "nationalizing" the Diaoyu Islands. This indicates that the dispute has reached the stage of official confrontation.

Announcing the baseline of territorial waters is the prerequisite to determine sea areas under national jurisdiction. In this way, we can make sure that 12 nautical miles outside the baseline of the territorial waters are considered our peripheral areas under China's sovereignty.

In accordance with China's laws, we can deny access to any foreign aircrafts, warships and individuals except innocuous foreign civilian vessels in these waters. Otherwise, it is an infringement of our territory, and we are entitled to resort to our domestic law for adjudication.

China has submitted its documents and maps with respect to its claim over Diaoyu Islands. These documents and maps contain the details required by UNCLOS showing the baseline for the various waters such as territorial waters, contiguous zone, EEZ, continental shelf, etc. This now officially established China's claim of sovereignty over Diaoyu Islands. This means China is now legally entitled to defend this territory with any means necessary including military force.


======================

http://english.people.com.cn/102774/7947127.html

China treasures peace. But we are gradually realizing among seemingly endless provocations from neighboring countries that a firm response to the provocateur is also a must for securing a peaceful environment.

As I'd said repeatedly, China's excessive peacefulness will not be perceived as friendliness but as cowardice. China must stop its one-sided reserve and respond normally to aggression. Responding normally means to do what normal countries would normally do when put in the same situation. What normal countries do when their territories were invaded is to respond with military defense if they can. If a country didn't respond militarily then it is alwasy because it is too weak. Therefore, China's inexplicable reserve in the face of invasion will not be perceived as peacefulness but either as official corruption or military weakness. In either case it will only provoke even more aggression from other countries. Even from countries that are currently friendly to China. And such meekness will also cause allies to lose their faith in China's ability to defend them against common enemies and cause them to break away from China and seek truce with China's common enemy.

I'm heartened by China's realization that "a firm response to the provocateur is also a must for securing a peaceful environment." If the Chinese leadership had realized this sooner then China's position would not be so imperiled today. Certainly there would not be so many provocations to the point where it seems like the whole world is attacking China. Certainly, Philippines would not have dared to confront China if it knew for a certain fact that China would destroy it.

But hopefully with a new leadership, China will now be wiser and use force whenever appropriate to minimize or even to prevent future bigger wars.

《司马法》仁本 第一
"以战止战，虽战可也"

Translation:
<<Si Ma's Art of War>> Chapter 1 Principle of Benevolence
"To stop war with war, it is righteous to make war."

In the map the thing shaped like a right foot at the bottom left hand corner, the toes are the main island group of Diaoyu Island. The second toe is designated Diaoyu Island 1. The other part of the foot is probably some kind of shoal or reef. The entire Diaoyu Archipelago is shaped like a triangle and connected by an archipelagic baseline. The first 12 nautical miles is the territorial waters. The next 12 nm is the contiguous zone. The EEZ extends 200 nm from the baseline. The continental shelf extends 350 nm from the baseline or up to 100 nm from the 2.5 km isobar.


This post has been edited by Liang1a: Sep 13 2012, 03:43 PM