Recent actions in the South China Sea and domestic politics
within China, Japan, and the US have served to heighten
nationalistic tensions between all three countries. For the
Chinese-American relationship, without a secure foundation of
mutual trust, both countries remain susceptible to the random
accidents of history that have plagued them in the past and
could further stoke tensions. Last week, anti-Japanese protests
swept nearly a dozen Chinese cities. Angry demonstrators
overturned Toyotas while Japanese restaurants and businesses
were vandalized. In the central Chinese city of Chengdu, where
thousands protested, some banners declared, “Even if China is
covered with graves, we must kill all Japanese!” The immediate
cause for the demonstrations was a flare-up over a few disputed,
uninhabited islands controlled by Japan. (China calls them the
Diaoyus; Japan calls them the Senkakus). On Aug. 15, Chinese
nationalists landed and planted flags on the islands before
being deported. Japanese nationalists retalia