The islands, which are controlled by Japan, lie south of Okinawa and north of Taiwan.

BBC: Chinese boat ��illegally fishing in Japanese waters��

The row over ownership of the islands, which lie south of Okinawa and north of Taiwan, has been rumbling for years.

BBC: China anger at US remarks on East China Sea islands

The six missiles that China test-fired north of Taiwan in late July were widely interpreted as a sign of Beijing's pique over Lee's trip to the U.S. the month before to attend a class reunion at Cornell University.

CNN: T WAS SUPPOSED TO

To the north and south of Taiwan, the Jinan and Guangzhou military regions remained on normal alert, with their forces conducting only routine summer maneuvers.

CNN: A TENSE WAIT FOR ANSWERS

Topics covered included defense sequestration, nuclear deterrence, terrorist detainee policy, the USA PATRIOT Act, North Korea, Taiwan, Afghanistan, Iraq and the Law of the Sea Treaty.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Search

Iwakuni is America's most important base in north-east Asia, being its closest airfield to North Korea and within easy reach of other potential hotspots, such as Taiwan.

ECONOMIST: The local politics of ��realigning�� America's bases

Chiou has served as a correspondent live on location across the Asia Pacific region, covering stories including the devastating aftermath of Typhoon Morakot in Taiwan and reporting from the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea.

CNN: Anchors & Reporters

Just within the past few weeks, China has made military threats against Taiwan and threatened military action against the United States if we defend Taiwan....Additionally, Beijing has exported weapons of mass destruction to Iran and North Korea, in violation of treaty commitments.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center For Security Policy

Ending the rift with Japan will also help the Americans to overhaul their security strategy in East Asia, giving them more flexibility to deal with the threats posed by terrorism, by a nuclear-armed North Korea, by the military muscle of a rising China and, with that, the potential for conflict over Taiwan.

ECONOMIST: Japan and America