We’ve all had that semi-otherworldly sense, ‘that I’ve been here before’. I’ve had it strongly enough on a couple of occasions where it literally raised the hair at the back of my head. One such occurrence was when I saw a series of reports about China’s belligerence towards Japan and, most recently, the Philippines. Those of you who still remember history as it used to be taught… actual, factual, times, places and events, are beginning to stand out as China continues its headlong rush to confrontation with the west.

American and Filipino Marines carry out military exercises in the Philippines.

The Japanese, prior to WW2, were flushed from two victories over the Russians and the Chinese. Japanese militarists were flexing their muscles through officially banned, but nonetheless politically influential, Samurai ‘Secret Societies’. His Imperial Majesty the Japanese Emperor, Hirohito, had plenty of extra-territorial aims of his own. The Japanese saw westerners as hairy, uncultured and smelly barbarians, who just happened to be in possession of some remarkable technology which had given the west a decided (although temporary as far as the Japanese were concerned) lead over the unbelievably courageous, but hopelessly medieval, Japanese military.  read more »