China defended its oil and gas activity in the East China Sea as occurring in areas "indisputably" under its jurisdiction, after Japanese protests stirred a longstanding dispute over the region.
Studies of democracy and peace show very few armed conflicts between democratic states. Once China is democratized there will be real hope for human peace. The US should support Taiwan's efforts for constitutional reform and pressing China to seek democratization, which would bring the birth of world peace. All democracies should support Taiwan as a lighthouse for democracy in Asia, lighting the way to long-lasting peace.