It was that master swot, Sir Isaac Newton, who stated that for every force exerted in one direction there was an equal and opposite force in the other. (Please, don't tell me I have not stated his theory correctly, I failed my O-level Physics 'big time'!) Anyway, in geo-politics, more or less the same thing goes on. Thus we have China, a hugely powerful nation puffed up with arrogance and a determination, after several centuries of mistreatment, to even a few scores by grabbing back various bits and pieces of territory they think is theirs by right. So far, so predictable.
However, equally predictable has been the beginning of an opposite force starting with Japan. My trusty spies at NightWatch report that the Japanese cabinet has agreed to a re-interpretation of their long-standing self-defence ordinance which was laid down after WWII and which limits Japan's armed forces from involving themselves in war unless the Japanese homeland is attacked. Now, at the behest of their prime minister that has been altered to include any attack on a friendly nation considered crucial to the defence of Japan.
So, the Chinese (and the North Koreans) have been exerting their force in one direction but it now looks as though Japan will be pushing back, and where they lead other East Asian nations will probably follow. What did that Chinese chap say about living in 'interesting times'?
