Chinese cyber citizens attack on Japan on Saturday the 18th?

Exclusive Asian Gazette

Following the China Japan territorial quarrel and the arrest of the captain of a fishing boat by the Japan Coast Guard, sources informed of a potential cyber attack planned for September 18th against Japanese governmental agencies. Bluff?

No, it is true, it was confirmed to me tonight in Tokyo by a Japanese cabinet official: "there are preparations from security agencies against a cyber attack" on Japan on the 18th of September, this is on Saturday.

Asking what the answer would be on the official side and if Japan administration and ministries already were under attack? "Not at that stage but we have the information". I was also told tonight at the Kantei by an official that counter security measures are undertaken in case of an angry reaction of Chinese cyber citizens as it was allegedly reported in the US and Korea earlier last year. But nothing on my radar screen yet. It could also be a Japanese Psyops...

Still the information was confirmed to me tonight by the Kantei prime Minister Kan office while I asked, accompanied by 2 other foreign correspondents, just before the "theatrical press conference" as one of my colleague put it, of the Prime Minister Kan announcing his new cabinet... Certainly the most boring press conference I ever attended in Japan during which it was impossible to reach the microphone for the foreign press except for 2 press agencies reporters who were recognized and allowed to ask a question which did not get any informative content.

And nothing at all from the Japanese press, apparently refusing to even ask the question tonight to the PM Kan although I was surrounded by lots of "spooky" reporters while I chatted with an official of the Government office. Where do they find these reporters?

So. Let's just wait a while. If it is true, then, it means Japan is threatened by a Chinese cyber attack but if Japan made it up, therefore it adds fuel to the fire already currently ravaging Japan China relations following their Senkaku Daioyu territorial disputes --as exposed in my former post today.

I was also told by the Kantei source tonight that the Chief of the "Naicho", the secret services of Japan, is working with his team on this alleged Chinese citizens cyber attack!

Notes:

1- The "Manchurian Incident" 79th is celebrated on September 18th.

2- For readers interested in getting Chinese netizens comments, sometimes very crude.

http://bit.ly/aE1RzN

3- Updated on Cyber Attack on Saturday 18th Sept 2010 10:20 AM Japan time: Several hours after Asian Gazette published the information, Kyodo news agency and Afp ran the story: "The Defense Ministry and the National Police Agency possibly came under cyberattacks between Wednesday and Friday as it temporarily became difficult for people to access their websites, government officials said. The government is looking into the attacks given that a hackers’ group viewed as the largest in China has said it will attack Japanese government websites through Saturday in protest over Tokyo’s handling of the collisions last week between a Chinese fishing boat and Japan Coast Guard patrol boats near disputed East China Sea islands. The method of attack is believed to be the so-called distributed denial of service attacks in which hackers send massive data to a target website and make it unable to respond or function promptly, the official said." http://bit.ly/ctOEj1

Sources: Reporter's Notes

Japan and China High Bet on the Senkaku - Diaoyu

A test of strategic will for the two Asian powers

Angry nationalists in Taiwan

As a Chinese good friend of mine wrote me the other day, "Hey Joel, it's simple, Chinese like to brag". And that could be the end of it! Now has Naoto Kan the ex Activist turned into a "Pragmatic Reformer" any diplomatic solution? The territorial quarrel is getting so nasty that Prime Minister Naoto Kan and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao will not be holding a bilateral meeting in New York, during the United Nations General Assembly. Now, guess who is happy about it?

The disputed uninhabited islands chain are known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China. The islets are under Japan's administrative control since 1972, Tokyo says. Also called Pinnacle Islands, these are a group of small blue water islands also claimed by both Taiwan and the People's Republic of China as part of Taiwan Province, Toucheng Township in Yilan County.

They are often the source of diplomatic friction. 20th of February 2009: two Chinese PLAAF J-10A fighters intercepted three Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-2 fighters flying close to the Senkaku Islands, and locked their missiles onto the Japanese fighters. After a three minute stand-off, the Japanese fighters returned to Japanese air space. The Japanese government stated it was an act of provocation.

Then on 7th of September 2010: A Chinese fishing trawler collided with two Japanese Coast Guard patrol boats in disputed waters near the islands. The collisions occurred after the Japanese Coast Guard ordered the trawler to stop fishing. After the collisions, Japanese sailors boarded the Chinese vessel and arrested the captain.

But it is the first time that an arrest of a fishing ship captain has been made by Japan after a brawl with Japan Coast Guards, a first arrest on on a foreign fishing boat in the territorial waters around the Senkaku Islands. The trawler's captain was arrested Sept. 8 on suspicion of obstructing public duties of coast guard personnel, which reportedly occurred after the coast guard tried to get the fishing boat to vacate Japanese waters.

fishing and gas reserves

Japan rehearsal for bigger confrontations?

Japan claims that after World War II, the islands came under the United States occupation of Okinawa. During this period, the United States and the Ryūkyū Government administered the islands and the US Navy even used Kuba-jima and Taisho-jima as maneuver areas. In 1972, sovereignty over Okinawa, and arguably the surrounding islands, was handed back to Japan as part of the termination of United States Military Government jurisdiction over the Article 3 territories of the Treaty of San Francisco.

"Who is right or wrong or who exercises legal authority in dispute waters are now clarified as secondary. After the Chinese assess Japan's resistance, backed by South Korea, the issue will be settled. Chinese bullying will not work with Japan or South Korea." An analyst source wrote on a blog.

The issue is how to show enough capability to draw a line

In the past, Japan has objected to Chinese development of natural gas resources in the East China Sea in an area where the two countries Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) claims overlap. Japan claims a division of the EEZ on the median line between the countries' coastlines. About 40,000 square kilometers of EEZ are in dispute.

China and Japan both claim 200 nautical miles EEZ rights, but the East China Sea width is only 360 nautical miles. China claims an EEZ extending to the eastern end of the Chinese continental shelf which goes deep into the Japanese EEZ beyond the median line.

The specific development in dispute is China's drilling in the Chunxiao field, which is three miles west of the median line, but which Japan contends may be tapping natural gas reserves which extend past the median line. China has energy needs: The Chunxiao gas field in Xihu Sag in the East China Sea is estimated to hold reserves of more than 1.6 tcf of natural gas and is expected to become a major producer in the next ten years.

Chinese activists in Beijing near

Japanese embassy: "Show the flag"

Empty Battle of words

Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada (until he quits to take the number 2 job at the ruling party DPJ on Friday) has urged China to stay level-headed.

Okada: "China has been continuously doing things like (canceling) a senior official's trip to Japan or calling off (bilateral) exchanges," Okada said during a news conference earlier this week. "But the incident is not directly connected and I think it is important to remain calm."

According to Yoshimitsu Nishikawa quoted by Japan Times today, (Nishikawa is a professor of international relations at Toyo University): "It is a matter of course that China is angry over the arrest of the fishing boat captain because by Chinese law the Senkaku islets belong to Beijing and not Tokyo."

According to Japan Coast Guard Commandant Hisayasu Suzuki, the coast guard has already conducted 21 inspections of foreign ships that have entered Japan's territorial waters since early 2010.

And last, China has its own words on the question:

http://www.diaoyuislands.org/islands/hollysoil.html

in Chinese language.

Sources: Mainichi, Asahi, J Times, Wiki, Action committee Taiwan, Reporter's Notes

Okada and Maehara: Kan's DPJ new Spears

Media reports Japan Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada had agreed to take up a key post as the ruling Democratic Party's secretary-general, just as Tokyo is in the midst of a territorial spat with Beijing that is straining ties between the two Asian giants, a move while Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Minister Seiji Maehara could lead the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Maehara seen as very close to Washington.

Prime Minister Kan, struggling with a fragile economic recovery and huge public debt, repeated today that he would take decisive steps on the yen's rise when needed.

Bank of Japan Governor Masaaki Shirakawa: "The central bank will take timely action and appropriate manner when deemed necessary and will continue to provide ample funds to money markets as there is a high level of uncertainty." He also said he strongly expected Japan's currency market intervention would help to stabilise the currency market.

"The intervention does not change the situation that Japan is experiencing deflation, and what the market will be looking at from now is whether or not the government of Prime Minister (Naoto) Kan will implement growth strategies speedily and whether or not corporate taxes will be lowered, among other things." (Nikko Cordial Securities Inc.)

Japan Sales Yen! Naoto Kan's Trade War Started to Save Japan Economy!

Perfect timing. But the method lacks professionalism. The first disturbing mark sent by new prime minister Kan entering into actions at last on yen versus the other currencies. Japan has not even warn the Europeans, much less the United States, about its plans to intervene on the currency via the BoJ. And the surprise caught a lot when Japanese government announced yesterday the central bank is to act intermittently on the foreign exchange market intervention to rectify the yen's sharp appreciation versus Euro and Dollar. Rather than cooperation with the West, Japan went alone... Japan's intervention is a first since March 06, 2004.

"Instead of buying dollars, China buys yen, which in turn induces Japan to buy dollars. This maintains the artificial capital flows to the U.S. while allowing China to escape accusations of being a “currency manipulator." a blogger says.

Adding an other scoop : "Sooner or later this must become intolerable to the U.S. administration, which is sailing into an election with high unemployment and a low approval rating. It should come as little surprise that the United States moved on Wednesday to bring two new cases against China before the World Trade Organization, one on steel and the other in banking."

As a result, the yen-euro ended 110 and 85 for the yen dollar exchange rate. Rapid gains in the Tokyo stock market Nikkei index recovered to 9,500 yen for the first time in nearly a month with a +2.3 % up. Large-scale intervention is likely to exceed amounts in trillion of yen for the days, sources say... and they add: "Pessimism remains regarding the weakness of US economy."

Sources: Reporter's Notes

Yes, it's Kan...

Naoto Kan 721 votes against Ozawa's 491

a generational change and a new working method

the people as assets of society

Prime Minister Naoto Kan has been re-elected president of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), beating party heavyweight Ichiro Ozawa. With his victory on Sept. 14, Kan, 63, will stay in power. He is expected to reshuffle his Cabinet and the DPJ Standing Officers Council shortly in a bid to bolster his administration for the next 3 years.

Kan caught a majority of votes from DPJ legislators and local assembly members as well as rank-and-file members and supporters of the party. The focal point of the appointments is how Kan will treat 68-year-old Ozawa, former secretary-general of the party and a tremendous power broker of Japanese politics in the last 20 years.

Kan said he will keep unity in the party. ‘‘I will do my best to maintain our posture in which everyone in the party can show his or her ability.’’ Kan also said he resolves to make his utmost efforts in his post to revitalize the country and hand it over to the younger generation.

First challenge: 1) The rising Yen which impedes the economy and the Japan skillful export machine, and 2) Diplomacy with Beijing: how to engage China? Chinese governement has just postponed today a senior official's visit to Tokyo in an escalating diplomatic battle over the arrest of a Chinese fishing boat captain after a ship collision near islands claimed by both countries. Kan seen as too close of the US?

Sources, Reporter's Notes

Global Japanese Brands on the Move

Build a Smart and Friendly Life

The Japanese government has sanctioned a fresh ¥915 billion (€ 8.47 billion - $10.9 billion) stimulus package to prop up the nation's export-led economy affected by the strengthening of yen.

Answering to the powerful Japanese industry concerns, the government said it "will take decisive actions, including intervention in currency markets when necessary."

Unlike other parts of the Japanese economy, the electronics-goods market has consolidated. Already, a substantial rebound emerges in the communication and social infrastructures sector, electronics, industrial machinery, precision equipments, environmental management systems, according to investors and industry sources.

Illustration of this technology update with the Yokohama Smart City Project (YSCP) announced on Monday Sept 13 by Mayor Fumiko Hayashi. The city management will achieve a sustainable low-carbon city (smart city) by investing in cutting-edge technologies in various forms, from the smart grid and electric vehicles (EV) to the overall social systems from the supply side to the demand side of energy.

Yokohama Mayor Fumiko Hayashi

Mission is to keep the existing city of 3.7 million citizens living comfortably and with a new social system beneficial to the regional economy, and in parallel, to export Yokohama model solutions abroad. Yokohama has a sister city in Lyon and others in Europe, the US, Orient.

Yokohama, 2nd populated city in Japan with 3.7 million citizens

First of all, YSCP is to start from the Minato Mirai 21 district (MM21) to be presented during the November Apec meeting. Yokohama will offer the "Green Technology Showcase". Companies such as Accenture, Toshiba, Nissan, Panasonic and Meidensha are also participating in the project, which aims at 4,000 smart houses, 2,000 EV, and 1.6 million square-meter BEMS --Building Energy Management SysteSystem-- which optimizes energy demand and supply by leveraging IT.

Tomorrow's electric cars from Nissan will shape a new concept for auto manufacturers. Will you buy an electric car and a battery not only to drive but also re-use the battery in your smart energy consumption house thanks to Nissan and other industries? Huge potentials ahead...

Today's car and tomorrow's smart concept?

Nissan Leaf electric car, a natural line, but thinking of electric vehicles as sporty cars is not out of question according to Nissan Executives, example with a new revised version of the current GT-R up to 530 horsepower which is to be expected to be confirmed before the end of 2010. After all, when Keio university laboratory in Tokyo launched the spot electric experimental model "Kaz", it reached the speed well beyond 200km/h...

The GT-R electric?

Sources: Yokohama City, Nissan, Foreign Press Center Japan, Reporter's Notes

你好！Bonjour ! Le Paysage Audiovisuel Chinois Change de Ton.

Et bienvenu dans le PAC !

xiè　xie　qǐnɡ　wèn　nín　ɡuì　xìnɡ?

谢　 谢！ 请　　问　 您 　贵　 姓？

Merci! Votre nom, s'il vous plaît?

Evidemment vous pouvez vous servir d'un logiciel de traduction... Bon. Mais attention aux surprises pour déchiffrer la langue de Confucius en langage numérique. Inutile de dire qu'il est conseillé de se munir d'un bon "bagage" linguistique avant d'aller voyager ou travailler en Chine, et pour cela la Radio Chine Internationale (RCI) fournit aux Internautes les leçons de chinois de base et SURTOUT l'écriture des Idéogrammes. Pour cela placer la souris sur le caractère. C'est vraiment sympa. C'est ici. http://french.cri.cn/learnchinese/

En 15 jours vous devriez être capable de parler le chinois "de la rue" et de le lire mais pas nécessairement de l'écrire. L'apprentissage des caractères chinois est un exercice de peinture, de mémorisation, de répétition.

Le site de RCI est bien fait, mais la grille information et programmes nécessiterait de sérieux aménagements. L'actualité surtout. Les dossiers régionaux. Les rencontres - interviews avec les hauts dirigeants. Autre chose, les enregistrements de conférences dans leur intégralité ne remplaceront jamais un travail de journaliste avec une explication papier avec élément sonore court ou interviews, le tout en un maximum de 2'30" par exemple (L'enrobé...) Les modules économie et reportages pourraient en outre être sérieusement "boostés". Et puis, les gens écoutent RCI en français pour savoir ce qui se passe en Chine, donc, plus de reportages sur le territoire chinois et en Asie, seraient appréciés.

Dans l'ensemble, je trouve que le site est sympathique et je suis impressionné par nos amis chinois présentateurs de la RCI (comme je l'étais jadis sur place) et par leur excellente maîtrise de la langue française et par le tonus de quelques voix vraiment très "radio".

L'écoute via le site Internet reçue par les "portables intelligents", Ipad et Iphone etc., confirme en outre l'importance de la continuité de ces programmes radio (et télévision avec Xinhua TV). Désormais, ces nouveaux venus dans le PAC * permettent une offre diversifiée alors que la Chine Pop n'en finit plus d'intéresser et d'intriguer le monde entier!

* PAC : Le Paysage Audiovisuel Chinois.

Sources: RCI, Reporter's notes