Republicans Anonymous

While W and his Bush League Minions betray America's secrets to discredit their opponents, and Iraq sinks further into violence, China starts not-too-subtle saber rattling:

"If the Americans draw their missiles and position-guided ammunition on to the target zone on China's territory, I think we will have to respond with nuclear weapons," the official, Maj. Gen. Zhu Chenghu, said at an official briefing.

General Zhu, considered a hawk, stressed that his comments reflected his personal views and not official policy. Beijing has long insisted that it will not initiate the use of nuclear weapons in any conflict.
(Source: New York Times Chinese General Threatens Use of A-Bombs if U.S. Intrudes, July 15, 2005.)

Yeah, right - a Chinese general's "personal views and not official policy" are announced at a press conference in a country where reading government archives can be considered espionage and the Catholic Church isn't allowed to acknowledge the Vatican's leadership. Any US general making such statements without express permission from the President and the Pentagon would be fired - I expect the Chinese would use a firing squad on the general unless his views had strong political backing.

Meanwhile, tensions between China and Japan are rising, too.

Japan's government has awarded a Japanese oil company test drilling rights in a potential flashpoint maritime area also claimed by China.
...

China said the Japanese move would harm bilateral ties, already strained by rows over history and resources.

"If Japan persists in granting drilling rights to companies in disputed waters it will cause a serious infringement of China's sovereign right," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told reporters in Beijing.
(Source: BBC News Japan stokes China sea dispute, July 14, 2005.)

Wow, I'm sure glad the US Armed Forces aren't tied up somewhere like Iraq...