As the Asian giants pursue a war of words over the East China Sea islands, we ask if military conflict is inevitable.
The already strained relations between China and Japan have taken a turn for the worse after Japan's naval drills in the western Pacific where both countries are locked in a dispute over an uninhabited island group.
A year ago, Japan's decision to buy three islands in the East China Sea sparked protests and a boycott of Japanese goods across China. The territorial dispute continues and now the two countries are arguing over a disruption to a military exercise.
China's growing power, Japan's imperial legacy and a surge in nationalist sentiments on both sides - all have their part to play in the frayed relations.
The dispute over territory between Asia's most powerful nations is deepening and both sides are talking tougher than ever.
Both sides sent warplanes into disputed airspace and patrol boats pushed contested boundaries at sea.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says his nation is ready to be more assertive towards China. Abe, has warned his troops to "rid yourselves of the notion that just the existence of a defence force could act as a deterrent."
China has warned that any firing on its unmanned drone aircraft "would constitute a serious provocation, an act of war of sorts."
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