The confrontation between Japan and China over the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea initially rated almost no mention in the Australian media. The Senkaku Islands. The dispute was expected to burn itself out long ago, but instead it has progressed from words to shows of force, then to shadow-boxing, and now threatens to boil over into violence. As the seriousness of the situation has belatedly been recognised, an explanation is being sought for the sudden interest of both parties i…
