US, Japan ignore treaties

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the normalization of China-Japan diplomatic ties. Common sense would suggest Japan should join China's efforts to nourish the tree of friendship and make it grow even healthier.

Instead, Japan has chosen to ratchet up the dispute with China over the Diaoyu Islands.

Moreover, Japan's Kyodo News Agency reported that an official from the State Department of the United States said the Diaoyu Islands fall within the scope of Article 5 of the US-Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security, as the island group has been under the administrative control of Japan since they were included as part of the reversion of Okinawa in 1972.