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Chinese woman's 'purchase' of uninhabited Okinawa island causes stir

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Under national security grounds it is madness that this was allowed. Seeing as the PRC have been eyeing the Okinawa chain forever, this is one less piece of the puzzle for them they need to take.

Really bad outcome for Japan.

11 ( +29 / -18 )

n China, where individuals cannot own land, social media users expressed envy and praised her move, with some even calling for the purchase of the Tokyo-controlled Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, claimed by Beijing and called Diaoyu in the Asian country.

Since only non-Chinese land can be purchased, by suggesting a fellow Chinese citizen can purchase the Senkakus would mean they think that they are not actually owned by China.

So I imagine the Chinese gov censors will be investigating such blasphemy immediately, and those who posted such heresy will soon find themselves on a trip to a Xinjiang labor camp for some re-education.

8 ( +18 / -10 )

Any purchase should be limited to legal residents or companies properly established in Japan.

3 ( +17 / -14 )

with some even calling for the purchase of the Tokyo-controlled Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, claimed by Beijing and called Diaoyu in the Asian country.

Right, just shows their ignorance and idiocy. Do these folks actually think that the current owners, are going to sell? Purchased a little over 10 years ago for 2.05 billion yen and the nationalized by PM Noda.

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda officially nationalized three of the four privately owned islands in the Senkakus (Minami Kojima, Kita Kojima and Uotsuri Jima).

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2022/09/15/commentary/japan-commentary/senkaku-islands/

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

Aside from this seemingly minor incident, there is nothing reciprocal about PRC’s relationship with the rest of this planet. They want to buy your land, but you cannot buy theirs. They want to enter your market freely, but you cannot enter theirs (without a local partner who has free reign to control and steal your technology rather than commit to R&D to build their own. They are happy to sell us endless junk made in sweatshops with a massive ecologically damaging footprint, but don’t want to change their human rights or climate policies. Simply put, nothing about PRC says to me that we can coexist over the long run unless we completely decouple. So far, our relationship has been a one way street where they primarily take and only give when forced or when giving benefits in them taking more in the end.

12 ( +22 / -10 )

That's capitalism folks! Next move - the J-government...

-1 ( +12 / -13 )

The irony is huge in this one. The Ming Dynasty and the Ryukyu Kingdom were on the best of terms both gaining from trade and cultural exchange. It was Satsuma Domain which invaded and colonized Ryukyu.

Under national security grounds it is madness that this was allowed. Seeing as the PRC have been eyeing the Okinawa chain forever

6 ( +12 / -6 )

No country should allow any foreign national to purchase their land if the country that national is from does not reciprocate. It’s that simple. That’s probably why China does not allow land ownership. It encourages their citizens to buy up land elsewhere which they could then confiscate making it “state” property.

6 ( +15 / -9 )

I mostly agree with you, J@Tokyo, but greed outside China is also at the heart of this. Companies and landowners have seen big dollar signs in their eyes and allowed Chinese companies and individuals to buy up land and stock and push up prices. Western and other companies have long resisted any curbs on China that might affect their profits from selling in China or exploiting Chinese labour and have been ridiculously happy about the restrictions and requirements China has placed on them in their pursuit of short-term greed. There is no need to take a long-term or geostrategic view if you are only interested in the endless accumulation of capital. Chinese have just leveraged Japanese and Western greed in their own interest.

-4 ( +9 / -13 )

Not sure how to read this, but at least they paid $$$$ for it "Legally", unlike in other in parts of the world where settlers kick out the rightful owners at gun point then just take over the land and raise the flag of their country on it without paying a dime.

5 ( +13 / -8 )

probably it will be underwater soon. Sounds like a bad investment for the buyer.

0 ( +8 / -8 )

How Funny, many years ago and during the bubble years many Japanese citizens and corporates purchased all the land and buildings they wish in America the UK, France, and any country that allowed it, and NO ONE complained, now that a Chines purchases an island and everone is bent out of shape.

It's a two way street, or isn't it?

-7 ( +13 / -20 )

Even if a Chinese person were to purchase the island or hold a majority investment in it, it would still fall under Japanese territory and be governed by Japanese law.

18 ( +21 / -3 )

No country should allow any foreign national to purchase their land if the country that national is from does not reciprocate. It’s that simple. That’s probably why China does not allow land ownership. It encourages their citizens to buy up land elsewhere which they could then confiscate making it “state” property.

This is happening all over the world. The US is no exception, look what’s going on in Africa, the Chinese are buying up land like crazy, in the end we only have ourselves to blame if no immediate action is taken to slow down or stop these buyouts.

3 ( +9 / -6 )

With the weak yen, it must have been a steal

2 ( +7 / -5 )

The majority of chinese public is a lot more hawkish than the Chinese government and the vast majority believe Okinawa to be inherent Chinese land and very much wants to go to war over it. This type of sales is asking for trouble.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

Who cares. She can buy as much as she want and pay tax on it. In the end, it still belongs to the nation anyway. So you still have to follow the laws of the nation. People seems to forget that.

14 ( +15 / -1 )

Legal land acquisition, the only problem appears to be with the author of this article and other commentators. A very racist judgement indeed.

-8 ( +5 / -13 )

You know what she really bought, the right to pay property taxes to Okinawa. I remember back in 1985 when the Yen almost doubled in strength, Japanese companies were buying up a lot of properties in the USA. I laughed at the people moaning and groaning about it. Look, they can't take the land and buildings back to Japan. Their ownership is temporary and they have to pay taxes. It is no big deal. Now, that said, if millions of people from a certain country come in to the same location and start buying everything, well that can be a problem, like what happened on the West Coast of Canada with all the HK and Chinese people coming in. But sporadic investments... no bid deal.

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

@Mark

“It's a two way street, or isn't it?”

No, it isn’t. When Japan was buying up land in the US and Europe in those bubbly days, everybody knew Japan had no intention or military power to invade those countries. When an uninhabited island is bought by a citizen of a hostile nuclear armed country so close to you, it is a matter of national security.

8 ( +12 / -4 )

I'm more pragmatic and less critical to her island purchase (for how much exactly?) in Japan UNLESS she's loyal to Beijing.

Perhaps Japan should have thrown her a vital question before the deal: Does she fully understand and agree on Japan's position over the Senkaku?

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

In the US Chinese "entities" purchasing land/property located close to govt sites have caused a problem. In other parts of the world Chinese buyers have had significant impact on real estate values enough to cause local criticism.

If foreign individual/entities can not own land in China, there is no reason that Chinese should be able to own land in other countries. This goes against the reciprocal relationship found among democratic countries. This is especially true of China which is openly on a territorial expansion agenda, at odds with neighboring countries in defiance of international court rulings, and combines trade, economics and commerce together with diplomatic and strategic actions to achieve their goal.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

MarkToday  08:41 am JST

How Funny, many years ago and during the bubble years many Japanese citizens and corporates purchased all the land and buildings they wish in America the UK, France, and any country that allowed it, and NO ONE complained, now that a Chines purchases an island and everone is bent out of shape.

Japan is a democratic country. Foreigners could always buy and own land in Japan and many do so today, China is a dictatorship and they do not permit foreigners to own land in China. This difference is clear as day,

6 ( +10 / -4 )

My goodness, Japan really is "under attack".

-8 ( +5 / -13 )

I’m a foreigner and I own land in Japan.

-1 ( +7 / -8 )

Don't worry guys! If something starts like war with China etc. the Japanese government will take over properties and land held by foreigners.

they also did that to Japanese. I know some temples in Kyoto who lost a lot of land.

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

Folks have short memories here. Chinese have been purchasing land throughout Japan, mostly for the mineral, and in particular water rights.

https://www.farmlandgrab.org/post/view/21262-china-buys-japan-water-rights-on-two-decade-land-price-slump

5 ( +7 / -2 )

Fighto!Today 07:36 am JST

Under national security grounds it is madness that this was allowed. Seeing as the PRC have been eyeing the Okinawa chain forever, this is one less piece of the puzzle for them they need to take.

This was sold as Japanese territory, and remains Japanese territory. It may now be "owned" by a Chinese woman, but it remains Japanese territory under Japanese jurisdiction and laws. It is not like China can now move in and establish its laws on this land in Japan.

It is no different to a Chinese individual buying a house or a farm in any part of Japan. It is still Japan.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

The Chinese have also been buying land in the US and the UK. Many foreigners, including myself own land here.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

With all of the ridiculous claims China is is making, how could the Japanese be so stupid to allow the sale of one of Okinawa’s islands?

8 ( +9 / -1 )

Foreigners own land in many countries, but such Chinese purchases can be very strategic. For example a Chinese Hong Kong form bought the Nagasaki theme park Huis Ten Bosch near the Sasebo base where American soldiers often patronize. Another bought farm land near a missile site in North Dakota. Many Chinese bought real estate near the US embassies in the West. Coincidences? Behind all that is the CCP who wrote a 2017 Chinese law that mandates its nationals anywhere in the world to cooperate with Chinese intelligence people. Surprised?

5 ( +6 / -1 )

@OssanAmerica Chinese companies are purchasing chicken, pork and grain processing facilities in rural America because that is where they are located and China, like Japan, is a net importer of food. If Red State politicians in the US do not want the investment the money will flow to Canada, Brazil and other large food producing countries.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

For once I agree with some of the more anti-Chinese posts on here. The buying up of actual Japanese islands does constitute a legitimate national security concern.

However, this was an oversight problem, and as such is entirely Japan's fault. There should have been a way to prevent this, but as is also the case with US politics, they care more about money than preventing China from buying up your country.

Having said that, to some of my fellow posters suggesting that Japan ban the buying of property by Chinese people, I caution you: if they can do that to them, they can also do it to you. Islands are an exception, of course.

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

Many foreigners, including myself own land here.

You arent Chinese so it isnt a problem.

3 ( +8 / -5 )

Yubaru

   Many foreigners, including myself own land here.

> You arent Chinese so it isnt a problem.

Odd comment. I have several very close Chinese friends and guess what, they all own land. Some of it is for farming.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

With all of the ridiculous claims China is is making, how could the Japanese be so stupid to allow the sale of one of Okinawa’s islands?

Really stupid, which is what they are. From their three years of bumbling, stubborn Covid policies, I feel like people would have understood this by now. They're not savvy, they're not kingmakers. They can only take cues from the US, which is in an even worse state thanks to their ideological wackiness and a guy in charge who doesn't know where he is half of the time.

Honestly, in this greater cold war against China, I don't really think Japan is cut out for this. Physically or mentally. At least not yet; that's what I have been saying. First and foremost, before even thinking about aiding Taiwan, Japan needs to secure it's own physical maritime borders, and build an actual military. Fortify the islands, make military agreements with other countries such as India (now the most populous country in the world). Fortunately for everyone, China's rise to dominance may have taken too long, and now they have to deal with not only a coming demographic crisis, but also an extremely wary population waving blank papers. They are going to cook themselves, especially if they try to invade Taiwan, because amphibious invasions into mountainous countries are very difficult. Japan has plenty of time, and the physical threat of a war with China may dissipate before it can even materialize. So, in other words, they're just plain lucky.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Simple, the government should block the sale.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Dang. Must be nice being able to afford a whole island when you're just in the 30's.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Why not? Russia has been illegally sitting on Japanese islands for decades and Japan invests in Russia, exports to Russia, imports from Russia and even the invasion of Ukraine does not move it to, for example, pull out its investment in Russian gas fields.

This woman bought the place legally!

Ask most Japanese. The LDP are real hawks on national sovereignty, right?

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

Larr FlintToday  09:31 am JST

Don't worry guys! If something starts like war with China etc. the Japanese government will take over properties and land held by foreigners.

That's why buying property in Japan is so risky.

You think that's something unique to Japan? The United States will freeze any foreigners assets if they are nationals of a country at war with the US. In fact I've seen freezes of assets even under sanctions.

And what country are you from that you need to woory about a "war" with Japan?

3 ( +3 / -0 )

China is a dictatorship and they do not permit foreigners to own land in China.

To be more correct, CCP are communists, as the name implies. The right to own land is called capitalism. While while many communist countries are dictatorships, and many capitalist countries are democracies, this article has nothing to do with neither democracy, nor dictatorships.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

There are 3 sides to this. First, she is lying, Second, Japanese sellers are eager to sell property. Thirdly, Japan must ban sales pf Japanese land over 3 acres to Chinese and Koreans.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

MarkToday 08:34 am JST

Not sure how to read this, but at least they paid $$ for it "Legally", unlike in other in parts of the world where settlers kick out the rightful owners at gun point then just take over the land and raise the flag of their country on it without paying a dime.

And in the case of HK, Weihaiwei, etc. the Brits had the temerity to make China pay THEM for the hassle! How embarrassing. That shame must run deep.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Erik Morales

There are 3 sides to this. First, she is lying, Second, Japanese sellers are eager to sell property. Thirdly, Japan must ban sales pf Japanese land over 3 acres to Chinese and Koreans.

Why? There are more than one million Chinese and Koreans living here.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

No one owns land in China it all belongs to the government.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Awa no Gaijin

The land I own I can sell or pass it on to someone else. Yes, you can really own land. There is no compulsory purchase laws.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

They can buy as many no man's islands to pay property taxes and under constant surveillance. Sounds stupid, yes, the real deal was probably to launder the money out of China

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Don’t worry just marry the women to Shiro yanagawa problem solved

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I think many Okinawans are more concerned about the US military occupying so much Okinawan territory than on Chinese woman buying title to a small uninhabited island.

Anyway, it is not clear that she holds title as she said that a company run by her relative had bought Yanaha Island. Her relative may even be Japanese. We don't know.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Other countries really need to stop treating China as equals. They are allowed to do business and own anything outside of China, but no one is able to do the same in China, they really need to be treated the same as they treat other to make it an even playing field. You can't put the choice of morals on companies, companies and individuals will always go after the money, there needs to be laws put in place. Sadly China already owns too much of the rest of the world that the only way they can go down is if we do as well.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

The CCP bought vast farmlands in the US. And no surprise that a wealthy Chinese, likely a puppet of the CCP, bought an island in Okinawa. The CCP can set up surveillance and reconnaissance military unit here. The island villagers literally sold their security and sovereignty in exchange for 30 pieces of silver. LOL

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Last year, I read a story where the Canadian government allegedly forced and or was forcing China to sell off their rights to a mineral mine. If this story is true and if they were successful, it is my guess the Japanese government could do the same if they feel a security threat to Japan.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Wait people!!! No where in this article says that the land was sold. From what I read it said the land changed hands several times and that the consulting firm website "CLAIMED" to have bought it. Do you trust anything the Chinese say and do? If you want to trust them I say its ok to trust but I have been always taught to VERIFY!!! Check the local deeds in the city that will tell you whether or not the land was sold to her.

According to public records, parts of the island have been owned by a Tokyo-based consulting firm that specializes in Chinese businesses since February 2021. The office of Izena village in Okinawa, which oversees the island, said the company owns about 50 percent of the total land, with its beaches mostly held by the local government.

*In late January, the woman posted a video on social media showing her first visit to the island. An Izena Island resident who took the woman and another female for a round trip to Yanaha Island by boat said they stayed there for several hours and *took pictures and footage of the local scenery.

*In a video posted to social media, a document is shown addressed to the consulting firm, *which claims on its website to have acquired Yanaha Island.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Odd comment. I have several very close Chinese friends and guess what, they all own land. Some of it is for farming.

It went over your head obviously. It's because she is Chinese, you aren't, and the comment I replied to had zero mention about any other Chinese landowners in it.

It's the location of the land purchased and nationality of the person purchasing it that is the problem. Don't be so naïve. This is purely a "pot-stirring" attempt by someone with an agenda, against the Chinese.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

There seems to be some information missing from this. She's bragging she's bought it, but has she? Where is the evidence? Is it only at present a verbal agreement between the current Japanese owner and her, and why doesn't the Japanese government step in and stop it being formalised?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Come on people, this is nothing new in Japan. Chinese and Australians have purchased lots of land around the prime ski areas in Niseko, Hokkaido. Only difference, this is a small island. I agree with Yubaru.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

purchasing the land isnt an issue, unless there are laws against foreign purchasers under certain conditions like in australia and other countries.

the claims she 'purchased' it are in doubt - if she really did, then why not show the title or deeds? if she can't, then it can be called BS.

the other issue is the CCP thus claiming the island as chinese territory, which is obviously a national security concern. of course, no one will accept any such claim, as the island is in japan and subject to japanese laws etc it is ludicrous that the ccp would even come up with such a claim, but the CCP is indeed known for some absurd claims that should be dismissed immediately

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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