Island dispute

There continues to be tension over claims of sovereignty of the islands called Senkaku in Japan, Diaoyu in China, and Tiaoyutai in Taiwan. It is possible that armed conflict will result which would be grave and senseless.

Taiwan, China, and Japan should agree to set their boundaries right at the islands. There is a region in southwestern Germany called the Drei Eck (three corners) in which Germany, Switzerland, and France all meet. It is a beautiful region and as an American there it was interesting that the most common second language among Germans there is not English but rather French.

In Europe there are no less than 48 of these Dreiländereck. One thing that is striking is the similarity between places in this region. Whether in France, Switzerland, or Germany the landscape is beautiful and one feels the overriding unity that is everywhere in this region. Being there one feels that this unity is much more powerful than whatever minor political, infrastructural, or administrative differences exist from place to place. It is a region where the land is exceptionally well cared for and quality of life and the environment are highly valued.

I hope that Taiwan, China, and Japan can come to an amicable agreement to create a region just as beautiful as the Drei Eck between Germany, France, and Switzerland with the same overriding vision of quality of life and environment.

Instead of being a point of contention and difficulty, the Drei Eck between Taiwan, China, and Japan should be a place where the three countries celebrate their unity and vision.