Japan is opening cover fire to help China defeat the United States. It's not a real battle, off course. It's a trade skirmish being fought at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.
For decades, Japan has taken pains to avoid being caught in the cross fire between China and the U.S. in political and military disputes. The U.S. is by far Japan's most important ally, while communist-ruled China is a neighbor with a population of nearly 1.3 billion.
Japan has stayed out of the latest spat between Washington and Beijing -- over the recent collision of an American spy plane and a Chinese jet fighter. Tokyo simply expresses hope for an early, peaceful settlement to the dispute, which has further strained Sino-U.S. relations.