All the western press seems to be surprised by the intensity of disputes between China and Taiwan on one side and Japan on the other side. These disputes relate to an uninhabited archipelago in the South China Sea. The archipelago is rather hideous and moreover very small. It is a rich source of fish and it may hide a more substantial fossil wealth under the ocean floor. However, this doesn´t seem to be a sufficient cause of war between two great powers and one strong and modern army to it. Unless the islands hide a treasure valued more than fish and petrol by China. In the end these rocks may well weight more than the entire Tsushima island on the