Read on Twitter
A mini-thread to complement this EXCELLENT piece from @alessionaval , based on some past research.
1) Japan's extraordinary self-restraint deserves recognition (*some relevant countries* only talk the talk of "self-restraint," but Japan walks the walk): https://amti.csis.org/self-restraint-with-japanese-characteristics/ https://twitter.com/alessionaval/status/1303980422003675136
1) Japan's extraordinary self-restraint deserves recognition (*some relevant countries* only talk the talk of "self-restraint," but Japan walks the walk): https://amti.csis.org/self-restraint-with-japanese-characteristics/ https://twitter.com/alessionaval/status/1303980422003675136
2) It takes two to tango, and JAPAN's response to China's challenge in the East China Sea is also fundamental to appreciating the dynamics at play. I wrote about that here (PDF): https://adampliff.com/2019/03/01/now-in-print-new-book-chapter-chinas-maritime-gray-zone-operations-in-the-east-china-sea-and-japans-response/ (Japanese version here: ) https://www.amazon.co.jp/%E4%B8%AD%E5%9B%BD%E3%81%AE%E6%B5%B7%E6%B4%8B%E5%BC%B7%E5%9B%BD%E6%88%A6%E7%95%A5-%E3%82%B0%E3%83%AC%E3%83%BC%E3%82%BE%E3%83%BC%E3%83%B3%E4%BD%9C%E6%88%A6%E3%81%A8%E5%B1%95%E9%96%8B-%E3%82%A2%E3%83%B3%E3%83%89%E3%83%AA%E3%83%A5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%BBS%E3%83%BB%E3%82%A8%E3%83%AA%E3%82%AF%E3%82%BD%E3%83%B3/dp/4562057459
3) Or this, if you prefer (also free): https://www.brookings.edu/research/china-japan-and-the-east-china-sea-beijings-gray-zone-coercion-and-tokyos-response/
4) As work by @alessionaval, many others, & myself shows, though much of the world has stopped paying attention since ~2015, the ECS situation is serious and CHANGING significantly. One hopes a conflict is still very low probability, but should still consider crisis management
5) A few years ago, @AndrewSErickson and I examined crisis management capabilities on both sides of the dispute:
(China; Journal of Contemporary China): http://adampliff.com/2016/03/07/journal-of-contemporary-china-chinas-crisis-management-capabilities-and-sino-japanese-crisis-instability/
(Japan; Journal of Strategic Studies): http://adampliff.com/2017/07/10/my-latest-article-japans-post-2012-institutional-reforms-sino-japanese-crisis-instability-just-published-in-journal-of-strategic-studies/
(China; Journal of Contemporary China): http://adampliff.com/2016/03/07/journal-of-contemporary-china-chinas-crisis-management-capabilities-and-sino-japanese-crisis-instability/
(Japan; Journal of Strategic Studies): http://adampliff.com/2017/07/10/my-latest-article-japans-post-2012-institutional-reforms-sino-japanese-crisis-instability-just-published-in-journal-of-strategic-studies/
6) Given the situation in the East China Sea, etc, I respectfully disagree with those who argue GOJ's efforts to stabilize the Japan-China relationship are a sign that Japan is reconsidering its alignment preferences (or "hedging"). *Free PDF* (IRAP): https://adampliff.com/2019/09/06/new-journal-article-irap-unambivalent-alignment-japans-china-strategy-the-us-alliance-and-the-hedging-fallacy/ Fin.
