China Warns Citizens To ‘Prepare For The Worst’ As It Sends Fighters To East China Sea

China and Japan are rattling the sabers over the oil-rich Senkaku islands. These small uninhabited rocks are roughly halfway between Taiwan and Okinawa, and were apparently of relatively little interest to anyone until the 1970’s when it became known that there was oil to be had there. Now the Chinese want to take it from Japan, who annexed them in 1895 (it’s not clear from my minimal reading that anybody really gave a damn about them before this).

Taiwan must be thrilled to death about this. If Japan and China tangle, it’ll be right at Taiwans doorstep; if China winds up in control of the islands, Taiwan will be flanked.

I, of course, have a solution to this problem: NUKE ‘EM. The islands are small… the biggest, Uotsuri-jima, has an area of 4.32 square kilometers. Easily reduced to a steaming hole int he water. Problem solved. Now quitcherbitchin’.