Early yesterday, Japan bough the Senkaku islands from a private owner. This, ironically was on the same day Japan originally took the island from china in 1933.

Japan China Diplomacy


In response to this act of "absorption" , China decided that the Senkaku islands were their international lands, and thus a conflict started.
Riots all across Japan , in defense of the fatherland have sprung up.

Likewise, riots against "Japanese aggression" have arisen up in China.


Luckily, in such a situation, Washington stands firmly behind Japan. As far as a military engagement, there is little to no possibility of such a thing. Japan and China are civilized nations, they know better than to wage nuclear war:P