On Foreign Entanglements, Rob and Toshi discuss the East China Sea island dispute between China and Japan.  Toshi gives a brief history of the dispute, then explains why tensions have escalated in recent months. Rob wonders how much the growing strength of the Chinese navy affects the calculations of policymakers in Tokyo and in Southeast Asia.  Rob and Toshi discuss the role that the United States can play in de-escalating the crisis. They also consider China’s relationship with Taiwan in this context. Plus: how does climate change influence disputes like this one?