Hostile rhetoric and military contingency planning by China and Japan in respect of the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands are at their most serious since the dispute first surfaced in 1970. It may be said that diplomacy has worked well so far in avoiding serious conflict, but in fact the two countries were never interested in any action that had a high risk of provoking a military confrontation. However, times have changed, writes Greg Austin.

Are warnings of the US provoking a war between China and Japan warranted? Ma Shikun examines the facts and lays out why current tensions warrant understanding and collaboration to ultimately avoid conflict.

The Chinese Ministry of National Defense issued a statement on Saturday on establishing the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). This new action complies with China's laws and has precedents to follow in the international community, writes Luo Yuan.

A November 1 article written by the Wall Street Journal has been the cause of some concern for those who follow US-China-Japan relations. While the US has maintained its position of “neutrality,” China is concerned about its own security as well as that of the region as Japan’s nationalistic leaders continue to pursue more active military and foreign policies.

Japan is making provocative statements on the issue of the Diaoyu Islands and questioning the Chinese position, writes Xue Junying.

In the face of a widespread deterioration in China-Japan relations, Feng Zhaokui conceives of five tangible moves to improve the bilateral relationship.

The relations between China and the US and between China and Japan, although in constant flux, will never transcend that between the US and Japan, writes Jiang Yuechun.

Following a meeting of the world’s top leaders at the G-20 Summit in St. Petersburg, Russia, Liu Jiangyong examines Japan’s relations between China and the Republic of Korea and notes that several factors contribute to the historical departure Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s current administration has taken compared to previous administrations.

Examining recent developments in the Asia-Pacific Stephen Harner posits that the true source of instability in East Asia is a result of the post-WWII alliance between the U.S. and Japan, rather than efforts to expand Japan’s constitution and enlarge its maritime presence.

After recently conducting counter-piracy exercises in the Gulf of Aden, increased naval cooperation between the United States and China appears to be on a positive tract. As Su Xiaohui explains, China’s aspiration to become a maritime power should not be perceived as a threat to the United States.