The Islamic State's announcement last week of the kidnapping of two Japanese men has raised serious questions about how the crisis will affect Japan's Middle East policy.

But for China, the unfolding drama has raised concerns about its neighbor's policies closer to home.

News over the weekend of the purported execution of hostage Haruna Yukawa provoked almost as much discussion in China about the potential threat of resurgent Japanese militarism as it did about the dangers of radical extremism.