China versus Japan, US

Tensions are rising between China and Japan over the contested Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands with United States standing in the middle.  Threatening to enforce its Air Defense Identification Zone restrictions, China claims ownership of the Islands; whereas, Japan has been recognized as the rightful owner of the islands since the late Nineteenth Century with a brief interlude following WWII when the US took control of the territory.  The US is directly involved due to our Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security with Japan, but America is also seeking to avoid a military conflict between China and the militarily weak Japan. 

Fortunately, we live in a civilized world where economic and diplomatic stability drive national interests; henceforth, America’s willingness to shield the Japanese through our military activities over the islands forces China to deal with the conflict in through non-military means.  If China tries to engage in military action against the US, or Japan, it would have terrible ripple effects that would certainly undermine the entire Chinese economy and its diplomatic endeavors.  Furthermore, America has many unspoken grievances against China while conflicts have a tendency of drudging up all sorts of issues, thus this conflict could help the US and China recognize our many grievances and recalibrate our relationship.