Fishing too.

Agreed. They show military muscle to gain some economic advantages in some treaties and to appease the people in their own land. A war on the other hand would destroy China economical.

Agree on the prices of american products. And I agree, that the WWII is more and more a thing of the past. But it is easily used by nationalist to incite hate against Japan, if it seems to bring advantage. And yes, cultural they naturally much nearer to each other than to the US. Look the Dragonball-anime is about a classic chinese story. Yes, you're right.

Sorry but isn't that what I was saying? 

Vietnam and India would beg to differ.

One thing to consider is...how far will the USA go in defending Japan in our current situation.  It won't be WWIII, I never said it would.  But I have serious doubts on the long term commitment the US has in defending Japan in our current situation.  Besides China has multiple reasons to weaken American influence in Asia in order to be the leading Super Power in that area. One being is the unification of Taiwan, by force if need be.  That's the reason for the formation of the eastern and southern sea fleets if you don't know.

Again, I just hope that nothing happens. If it does, I hope Miyamoto decides to do a trip here to the states as to keep him safe and continue doing the good thing he does best...MARIO AND ZELDA!!! WOOOHOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!

I hope things don't go any further than they have, but I have a bad feeling they will. China would be smart not to raise tensions further though, if this does deteriorate then the west will stop buying their crap and their economy will dive. If they do attack Japan though, it will turn into WWIII, as the US will be dragged in through their treaty, Australia through theirs and the rest of the world through general wanting to secure Oil/Natural Gas.

As others have stated though, China's military is rapidly modernizing but it is still far behind the US. Japan does have a military (well Self-Defence forces, but it is a military in all but name) with a Navy that is more than capable of defending Japan from China. But the big thing is China's Nuclear Weapon capability, there have been reports lately that they could have 1000+ more missiles than they've actually reported, much more advanced ones capable of striking the US. If Japan really needed to, it could have nukes in months, though, so that shouldn't be much comfort to China, seeing as Japan has a growing pile of Plutonium without a use with it's reactors shut down.

I thought this was better than simply saying "I agree". :P

Based on some of the comments on this thread gaming does have a bad effect on the brain.

This is just political posturing. Both sides talk big without the slightest intention of going to war. They need each other financially and the stakes are too big. Natural resources aren't that stretched just yet.

There will be eventually another big world war but I don't think it would happen for a few years yet... who knows really.

The fact is that since the second world war (Korea don't count) two powerful nations have yet to go to the last level in a war against each other.
The policy has been the stronger nations kicking the ass of the weaker economic and military nations. Fighting nations that can't strike back.

China and Japan sit at the top table. It is very unlikely they will fight each other..at least not yet.

Another thing is that many believe that "America will always help". I don't. I could be wrong but I have my doubts.

Mao believed Americans hate pain. They can dish it out but if there is barely a hint that the enemy can strike back at the heart of their mainland it's a different matter. All other major powers know what it is like to have their cities bombed to bits during a war. I suppose the attack in 2001 is the worst it ever got on the US mainland.

Time will tell.