Diaoyu

For those who haven't picked up the news lately, tensions between China and Japan are running pretty high, all due to a collection of rocks in the southern waters of the East China Sea called the Diaoyu, Tiaoyu, and Senkaku Islands by China, Taiwan, and Japan, respectively.

photo courtesy of Wikipedia

The islands themselves are of little importance, but the ocean floor around them is rich in natural resources (read: oil), making ownership of the islands highly desirable. To complicate the issue, the islands have changed hands some five or six times (read a cartoon history here), so both China and Japan have a somewhat legitimate claim to ownership.

Stop what you're doing

and read this: http://tealeafnation.com/2012/07/translation-one-authors-plea-for-a-gentler-china/

Never have I read anything that more poignantly and precisely captures the spiritual malaise that seems pervasive throughout modern Chinese society.

I've been thinking about the state of modern Chinese society quite a bit these last few weeks. I still need to organize my thoughts, but after I do, you know I'll be quick to share.