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Q: Japan and Korean Peninsula - Why doesn't China claim them as traditionally theirs as well?
A couple of weeks back, I recall someone posted up a map of the various territorial 'disputes' going on around that part of the world (I'm out of PRC for the moment).
And so I wonder - why doesn't China try to claim Japan and Korea?? (or Mongolia too, for that matter?) After all, they've got just as much 'right' to those countries as they do to that territory out west they've taken...
And, while we're on it, when the Japanese hating starts, why don't they recall that those Japanese people are mostly from direct Chinese heritage (and, thus, other than a few hundred years of cultural difference, are basically the same people??)
They DO claim Mongolia. As to the other two, it is only a matter of time.
vale1:
I know that ROC claims Mongolia. Had no idea PRC also does. Not surprised, though.
Simply, because China wants to prove it is a great power similar to the US, Russia, France, UK which were at one point of history all countries with territorial expansion strategies.
If all of them have put an end to it after the Second World War, China is now taking the torch to light up his right (legitimate or not) to overseas territories.
Usually the disputed territories are essentially small land or islands which are thought to contain "huge" amount of primary resources, mainly oil.
But if you look at a Chinese map, you would see that some islands are so far from any Chinese coasts that I wouldn't see any right from China to them.
These small disputed territories are actually so sensitive that it can lead to the outbreak of war.
China often claims these territories because at one part of Chinese history, they have belonged to one of the Chinese dynasties. It's like if Spain, UK and France were respectively claiming back their rights on California, Canada and the Louisiana because at one point of history, these now-US territories were once theirs.
But you have the same claims by China for some other countries or territories: Vietnam (previously a Chinese protectorate), Tibet (previously a Chinese protectorate), Xinjiang (previously a Chinese protectorate) and Taiwan (disputed for political reasons).
rasklnik:
Ah but you see this isn't quite right
China doesn't claim simple Empire. For example, the French controlled Canada, Vietnam, or Cote'd Ivorie but never said those countries were a PART OF FRANCE!
China has irredentism on the brain. The idea that parts of ANOTHER country are part of China. A case in point, modern Chinese historians often refer to the Mongols as Chinese. They weren't. But the state likes this. In other words, in true Stalinist thought, say what ever you want, and make up facts to prove it.
Traveler:
Let's not forget the wars with India and Russia over disputed borders.
Oops. Sorry. I forgot. China never starts wars.
Apparently recent archaeological discoveries suggest that the human race didn't start in Africa at all but in Asia, so it's just a matter of time before China claims first dibs on Africa, the Americas, Europe, and everywhere else. One thing at a time though.
Anyway, sensitive subject matter this. I'm off.
You didn't see me.
nevermind:
Odd I can't find reference to any of this new info you claim exists. It would explain why the Chinese act like cave men though
Gaohao:
Just something I heard. And yeh, the Chinese, cavemen, I get it, very original.
Perhaps they will when the opportunity is right and the west is up to their ears in shit in the Middle East.
If China has the guts to make claims on Hawaii (True) then it'll get around to claiming Japan and Korea eventually.
Seriously, beaufort? I've never heard that. Do you have any links?
Traveler:
In September last year, A Chinese businessman took out a half page ad in American newspapers suggesting that Japan might well claim Hawaii next.
When no one took it seriously, apparently a Chinese journalist asked about China claiming Hawaii, to which Hillary Clinton supposedly replied "You're welcome to try." It was widely reported in Japan, and less so India and Vietnam
There was a link cited: www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2012/11/201235.htm which is on the US Department of State website, but that page has been removed. It may have been something totally unrelated, but the date seems to match.
brisguy:
That advert was a Chinese businessman raising awareness to the island spat they have with Japan. It stated how would you feel if Japan claimed Hawaii. Most americans laughed most people around the world laughed and no one cared cause it was the most stupid claim anyone can have.
ambivalentmace:
actually the japanese own a lot of hawaii already and it would probably be a better place to live under japanese control than american really, many japanese retire and buy property there now, tokyo is much cleaner than honolulu , their both expensive already , it would not matter to me at all.
the problem i have with the island claims is how do you control islands without a navy, if china had a navy in 1949 taiwan would not be a problem, how do you control without a navy, of course you will never get a good answer for that one.
if you put oil rigs up , the workers have to sleep somewhere other than the rig. in the us we fly workers in helicoptors out to the rigs on 12 hour shifts. the island china wants from the philippines is 1200 km from china, so you need the island for the workers to sleep , nevermind its only 140 km from the philippines, i do like the idea of giving europe back to the roman empire and america back to the indians, i would love to teach english in italy. lol
