Okinawa governor visits China's Fujian to boost history-based exchanges

.........like a mouse offering a snake cheese.

His reference to the kingdom has triggered speculation that Beijing may seek to raise doubts about Okinawa's status as a Japanese territory as a warning to Japan to stay out of matters related to Taiwan, which China regards as its own.

This is not speculation. It’s the Taiwan desires independence and so does Ryukyu angle Beijing is taking. I posted this months ago Tamaki is visiting China and it was deleted.

This is good in that Ryukyu won’t turn into a battlefield. China will foster Ryukyu in the same way Japan fosters Taiwan relations.

Ryukyu sovereignty post WWII got lost in the shuffle.

China has no history of fostering another land without absorbing them as their own.

Most of China’s population claim the entirety of Okinawa, the government is actually less hardline than the majority population

China has no history of fostering another land without absorbing them as their own.

Just ask Hong Kong.

The Ryukyu, Ming/Qing history prove exactly the opposite. Both sides benefitted. No armies were involved (cough, cough, Satsuma).

China has no history of fostering another land without absorbing them as their own.

This is good in that Ryukyu won’t turn into a battlefield. China will foster Ryukyu in the same way Japan fosters Taiwan relations.

Yep, there's not much wiggle room for Japan to lecture China about Taiwan given their own history of colonization and annexation. Even if you squint and ignore the current existence of a Ryukyu independence movement, the recognition that Okinawa was actually Japan's first colony (and not Taiwan) is not a foreign idea even among mainland Japanese academics.

Texas also has and independence movement and it has about as much chance to succeed as the Okinawa one.... which is nil. The overwhelming majority of Okinawa people identify as Japanese. There are a few romantics and hardliners that try to stir up the glory days, but they can't overcome the propaganda machine of the c/party.

Okinawan independence is a pipe dream combining dissatisfaction with mainland Japan, dissatisfaction with U.S. bases and Chinese strategic propaganda and nationalism. China wants the US out of Okinawa to secure the First Island Chain and to remove the US ability to defend Taiwan.

They might not be idiots, but they are the poorest on average of any Japanese prefecture. Add to that burden "hosting" 70% of American military personnel.

The use of Okinawan resident is more accurate as the Tokyo, Japan government does not consider Okinawans as a separate people or minority.

Okinawans aren't idiots

quercetumToday 08:31 am JST

This is good in that Ryukyu won’t turn into a battlefield.

Said no one ever. Those bases aren't going anywhere.

China will foster Ryukyu in the same way Japan fosters Taiwan relations.

But they won't be able to send any military equipment, so it will basically be economic missions which no one could ever object to.

Ryukyu sovereignty post WWII got lost in the shuffle.

Because the US was there to prevent such a theft.

The Chinese had never claim Okinawa Isles are Chinese soil, when you have heard of such a nonsense ?

@Quarry: Do you have basic history knowledge, sir? Hong Kong was ceded to British Empire in 1842 with HK island and a peninsula. In 1898, the British leased a further larger land New Territories for 99 years.

Not it was "Lease" , there was a due date of return in 1997. And it was British PM Mrs Thatcher willfully return to China. The non existence of that China in 29th century: The great Manchuria Empire has gone into dust of history but that doesn't meaning no return of Hong Kong. Britian recognised Peoples Republic of China is the sole legitimate regime!

China has no history of fostering another land without absorbing them for their own....

Oh yes, the United States has done that kind of thing in 19th century and they are still using those lands.

California, Neveda,Arizona,New Mexico, Utah, Coronado........these states were former Mexico name. Those places San Francisco,Los Angeles,Las Vegas.... these are Spanish names. When U.S. taken those lands by aggressions, defeated the Mexican army in 1845, half of the Mexico was stolen by US army. What history of fostering related to U.S.? The official language was English not Spanish, these Latin speaking populations were "Absorbed" to be English, for their own, right?

Don't just blaming China over Tibet, Xinjiang or Hong Kong. China is no where to compare with the history of an American expansion. The US beats China over absorbing other's land for own use. And the US key ally Israel also absorbing Palestinian land everyday, you guys seems feel alright without saying anything!

The above: "Colorado' (Sorry for mis spelling).

I find these fantasy based claims fascinating. Do you have any idea of the naval history of the PRC? It only became relevant as a blue water navy about a decade ago.

Because the US was there to prevent such a theft.

elephant200Today 12:40 pm JST

Don't just blaming China over Tibet, Xinjiang or Hong Kong. China is no where to compare with the history of an American expansion.

Considering China is about the size of the US, I would say China is exactly comparable with the history of American expansion.

The Chinese had never claim Okinawa Isles are Chinese soil, when you have heard of such a nonsense ?

That doesn't mean China can't cause mischief if they had their run of the area. Poland was never part of the USSR, either.

Not it was "Lease" , there was a due date of return in 1997. And it was British PM Mrs Thatcher willfully return to China.

There was supposed to be 50 years of HK maintaining its systems. Instead there was 25 years until China decided it didn't have to pretend to be a sheep anymore.

The Chinese had never claim Okinawa Isles are Chinese soil, when you have heard of such a nonsense ?

Not the government officially but the majority of the Chinese public does, just go check any Chinese SNS.

https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/04/07/okinawa-japan-china-us-bases-soft-power/

https://amp.dw.com/en/japan-angered-by-chinas-claim-to-all-of-okinawa/a-16803117

https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/14/world/asia/sentiment-builds-in-china-to-press-claim-for-okinawa.html

It's OK. These people know nothing. But they have strong internet opinions. The Ryukyu Kingdom petitioned Ming to accept a tributary mission. Ryukyu received much more in exchange including ocean going ships and ship building technology that took Ryukyuan people as far as Thailand to serve as a trading bridge between East and Southeast Asia which brought wealth to Ryukyu.

Being a tributary isn't the same as colonization

Texas also has and independence movement and it has about as much chance to succeed as the Okinawa one.... which is nil. The overwhelming majority of Okinawa people identify as Japanese. There are a few romantics and hardliners that try to stir up the glory days, but they can't overcome the propaganda machine of the c/party.

Good this Taiwan/China too. Only China’s not really stirring up shat. It’s just saying see this is the same as you stirring the pot with Taiwan.

Defacto pragmatism is best. Let the US sell weapons. Trade continues. Neither Ryukyu or Taiwan will ever be independent.

quercetumToday 03:57 pm JST

Texas also has and independence movement and it has about as much chance to succeed as the Okinawa one.... which is nil. The overwhelming majority of Okinawa people identify as Japanese. There are a few romantics and hardliners that try to stir up the glory days, but they can't overcome the propaganda machine of the c/party.

Good this Taiwan/China too. Only China’s not really stirring up shat. It’s just saying see this is the same as you stirring the pot with Taiwan.

Defacto pragmatism is best. Let the US sell weapons. Trade continues. Neither Ryukyu or Taiwan will ever be independent.

Unfortunately the status quo is not quite suitable for the yellow bear in Beijing. If China were willing to just accept the current situation, they wouldn't lose their stuffing over speaker visits or maps. They also wouldn't routinely violate Taiwan's airspace for no reason. There is also this:

https://www.foxnews.com/world/china-xi-ordered-military-ready-taiwan-invasion-2027-cia-director-burns-says

deanzaZZRToday  10:05 am JST

The Ryukyu, Ming/Qing history prove exactly the opposite. Both sides benefitted. No armies were involved (cough, cough, Satsuma).

China has no history of fostering another land without absorbing them as their own.

This is 2023. The Ryukyu Kingdom, Ming Dynasty, Qing Dynasty and Satsuma Clan no longer exist. We aretaking about today's China, the Peoples Republic of China, est 1949.

What ol' Jack Burton always saysToday  02:00 pm JST

China has no history of fostering another land without absorbing them as their own.

Iam sorry ossan but thats not entirely true.

No, very true,"China" as in the PRC. Nobody is talking about the past dynasties and tributary states and vassals.

@Ossan The whole premise of the article and Governor Tamaki's visit to China is historical and you did not specify a timeframe, but OK.

I do appreciate your lawyerly framing of questions. Yes, the PRC officially established on October 1, 1949. Xinjiang was incorporated into the PRC a month or two after that. Tibet was incorporated in 1951. Chiang's ROC government in Taiwan looked on enviously,

It's now 70+ years later and Taiwan is the final piece.

Maybe Denny could ask why every second PET bottle I pick up on my beachcleans here on Amami is a Fujian water bottle?

No country in the world recognizes Tibet as a sovereign state. Zero.

Moreover, U.S. acceptance of China's sovereignty over Tibet predates the establishment of the People's Republic of China. That is before 1949.

The US recognized Tibet as a part of Republic of China (Taiwan). So Tibet us a part of China, whichever one but it is not a country.

Is Hawaii a country? Neither is Tibet? Are the Choctaws an independent nation? Nope. Neither is Tibet.

Are the Chickasaws a sovereign nation? Nope. Neither is Taiwan.

Ryukyu was a nation but it must now wait. Israel waited over 2000 years. Ryukyu has to wait for China to liberate them.

Ryukyu has to wait for China to liberate them.

See above for the typical Chinese public view. Irregardless of who is in charge of China, China will eventually attack Okinawa, a democratic China would actually have higher likelihood of attacking as it is the popular opinion

Okinawa or Ryukyu should receive their Independence in 1946 after the Japanese empire surrendered. Because the island became a vassal state and later(1879) absorbed by Imperial Japan.

But it remained under US occupation until 1972 when Nixon decided return it Japan. America doesn't want to rule the local people but they are keen on holding Okinawa the island as a "Power Base" housing their B52 bombers in Vietnam war and fighter planes at ordinary times.

Too bad, America has taken away the rights that the local Okinawa people deserve to have but living daily under US military warplanes' high pitch engine noises, a very disturbing lifestyle, a place solely being used by a super power's selfish own use. It is their hope to seek for Chinese help to let them gaining freedom from US hegemony, a very normal hope for the Okinawa people!

deanzaZZRJuly 7 06:01 pm JST

It's now 70+ years later and Taiwan is the final piece.

Going to be waiting a lot longer than that.

quercetumJuly 7 07:12 pm JST

Are the Chickasaws a sovereign nation? Nope. Neither is Taiwan.

If the Chickasaws had their own independent everything, including a foreign policy, they might be comparable to Taiwan.

Ryukyu was a nation but it must now wait. Israel waited over 2000 years. Ryukyu has to wait for China to liberate them.

At least you got the time frame right.

elephant200Today 06:16 am JST

Okinawa or Ryukyu should receive their Independence in 1946 after the Japanese empire surrendered. Because the island became a vassal state and later(1879) absorbed by Imperial Japan.

But it remained under US occupation until 1972 when Nixon decided return it Japan. America doesn't want to rule the local people but they are keen on holding Okinawa the island as a "Power Base" housing their B52 bombers in Vietnam war and fighter planes at ordinary times.

Too bad, America has taken away the rights that the local Okinawa people deserve to have but living daily under US military warplanes' high pitch engine noises, a very disturbing lifestyle, a place solely being used by a super power's selfish own use. It is their hope to seek for Chinese help to let them gaining freedom from US hegemony, a very normal hope for the Okinawa people!

This right here is precisely why I said it was good "the US was there to prevent such a theft.". Far too much was stolen from countries by the dictatorship cabal in WW2.