Japan, China in fresh territorial row

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/kt-article-display-1.asp?xfile=data/international/2012/July/international_July220.xml&section=international

(AFP) / 11 July 2012

Japan protested to China on Wednesday as a new diplomatic row flared over a remote chain of islands, with Beijing asserting its “indisputable sovereignty” over the uninhabited territories.

Three Chinese patrol boats approached the islands claimed by Japan in the East China Sea on Wednesday morning, leading Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba to formally complain to his Chinese counterpart during talks in Cambodia. snip

The crews of the vessels, which have since left the islands’ immediate vicinity, initially rebuffed Japanese orders to leave.

“We are conducting official duty in Chinese waters. Do not interfere. Leave China’s territorial waters,” the crews said, according to the Japanese coastguard.

[Meiko]

1. What

China isn't big enough? They need the land. There must be something on the islands they are after.

[NNN0LHI]

2. Oil and natural gas