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Protests turn violent in China-Japan island dispute

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    Former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. John Bolton reacts

  • Duration 4:39
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This transcript is automatically generated

Okay.

OK yeah.

Where I want you to forget about Israel in a random word about China and Japan those countries could be much closer to coming to blows.

Over something that seems patently silly but no -- That's -- can turn deadly.

I'm serious when it comes -- Who -- some disputed islands in this case the chain of uninhabited.

Islands between China and Japan in the East China Sea.

Japan says those islands are bears China says not so fast they are artists.

And after these Japanese Nationalists reach the island sewers and planted a flag in the rock.

Let's just say.

China.

Is laying all hell breaking loses thousands took to the streets in protest.

Overturning cars burning legs.

And obviously from being seen no small amount of -- some dispute.

And for our -- both of these countries by a lot of them are dead this is no it's significantly small matter to ambassador John Wolf and.

On why this could be a very big deal.

Ambassador no -- -- this one coming what happened.

Oh I think it's been coming for a long time and it's not just the dispute in the East China Sea between China and Japan it's China's.

Very assertive almost aggressive territorial claims in the South China Sea.

As well against Vietnam Philippines and others at people say that these are just rocks there barely above water.

True except that they're also here.

Under -- mineral deposits oil and gas in some cases.

And they provide potential strategic control.

For countries like Japan and Korea.

-- lines of communication for trade raw materials.

Critical to their economies so they may not look impressive but these are potentially.

Critical disputes between these factors.

Of course that did these countries have had an had buried.

That's -- tortured relationship.

Going back to mass Japanese executions -- hard Chinese citizens and so soldiers dating back to world war two and prior.

But but this seems to be.

-- I did just -- a lot -- at the thought that Japan.

Would lay -- suits to lands -- the Chinese see as there is a bit that it it's almost like they ripped off.

-- -- Well I think these demonstrations were probably organized by the Chinese Government but I do think there's raw emotion there -- and and therefore not to be underestimated people do remember.

World War II which the Chinese think began in 1937.

When the Japanese attack.

Not in 1939 when Germany attack Poland.

You know -- leads in the United States and Europe tend to underestimate.

The force of nationalism and religion in world politics they say oh that's so.

Old fashioned.

Somebody better give that memo or the Chinese and Japanese because these emotions run -- no doubt about it.

Now the China of course is you've provided him as a disease itself as the world's premier power let alone Asian power that -- -- was a moot point.

If Japan is is -- teasing the tiger so to speak.

What what are we risk in this region what could happen.

Well there's a lot at stake for us remember China's just really beginning to develop a blue water naval capability to get out to what.

The geography is called the first island chain -- the inner island chain along China's eastern.

Coast there Japan has a very big Coast Guard is they euphemistically call it.

And increasingly.

Even even larger.

Sea going ships as well so the stakes here are high in Japan.

Looks at these sea lines of communication has its lifeline and if China can control them Japan is that China's -- I don't think they'll let that happen.

Now we've learned from the Falklands -- manufactured that you content and on the blows over stuff like this do you think.

This will result in these countries coming to books.

Well we certainly hope not but honestly it does take it will take -- more assertive American presence.

To show that we care about the outcome of these disputes and we should -- with a declining navy with the budget sequestration about the take effect.

That they a lot of the graph for the size of our navy is straight downhill.

So this is something China -- it's one reason they're being aggressive in both east and south China sees and I think it's a real problem for the United States something that day if if we don't wanna see the Chinese.

Take over all these rocks and -- we better do something about it sooner rather than later.

All right ambassador to closely.

-- -- it's not just.

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