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Okinawa or Ryukyu? The prefecture on the front line of China-Japan ties

  • Okinawan governor Denny Tamaki – who has long opposed US military bases – is expected to visit China from Monday
  • Okinawan leadership may be seeking to increase bargaining power with Tokyo by conducting dialogues with Beijing, says analyst

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Aircraft take off from US Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa prefecture. Residents have opposed the US military bases that dot the region, but a subtle shift may be under way. Photo: AFP

When Chinese President Xi Jinping referred to Japan’s southernmost prefecture of Okinawa last month, he did more than highlight his country’s historical ties with the region.

Xi referred to the area as Ryukyu, the name of a kingdom that was a Chinese tributary state for more than 500 years until it was annexed by Japan in 1879.

The reference set off a flurry of commentary in Japanese media, with some taking umbrage, especially as various Chinese scholars have long advocated for autonomy for Okinawa.

The prefecture lies on the faultlines of Japan’s relationship with China, and even regional geopolitics, such as the Diaoyu Island dispute and potential conflict around Taiwan.
Those faultlines are expected to be among the topics discussed when Okinawan governor Denny Tamaki – who has long objected to US military bases – visits China from Monday.

He will visit with a delegation from the Japanese Association for the Promotion of International Trade (JAPIT), a group dedicated to developing business with China headed by former House speaker and one-time Japanese foreign minister Yohei Kono.

Okinawa governor Denny Tamaki is expected to visit Beijing and Fujian from Monday. Photo: Kyodo
Okinawa governor Denny Tamaki is expected to visit Beijing and Fujian from Monday. Photo: Kyodo
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