The Wire

China has recently made a lot of countries nervous by introducing an air defence zone above the Shenkaku Islands in the East China sea. The islands have been in Japanese hands since 1895 and China’s move has drawn responses from both the US and Australia.

The move is seen as China signalling territorial intentions and also possibly having designs on the resources that surround the islands. Although Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop has been criticised for rebuking China, her position is difficult as it’s an indirect test of power relationships between the US and China in the area.