Japan protests over Chinese article on Okinawa sovereignty

[klr]

This is curious to say the least. If the Japanese government published an opinion peace questioning (say) Chinese sovereignty over Tibet, the Chinese would be in a right lather over it.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-22460810

Japan has protested to China over a newspaper article that called for a review of Japanese sovereignty over Okinawa.

The article was published on Wednesday in the People's Daily - the mouthpiece of China's Communist Party.

Citing treaties, it said now was a "suitable time to revisit the historically unresolved issue of the Ryukyu islands", as Okinawa is known.

Okinawa is Japan's southern-most prefecture, comprising several islands.

It is home to 1.4 million Japanese nationals and also hosts almost three-quarters of US military bases in Japan, including key airbases.

The island chain used to be an independent kingdom, but was annexed to the Japanese state in the late 19th Century.

'Injudicious'

The lengthy article in the People's Daily was written by two academics from China's top state-run think-tank.

Citing treaties from the Sino-Japanese war and from World War II, it argued that ownership of the Ryukyu islands should be discussed.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hua Chunying then said in a regular press conference that the history of the island chain had "long called for attention in academia".

Japan's top government spokesman, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, on Wednesday called the article "injudicious".

He told a news conference on Thursday that Tokyo had told Beijing via diplomatic channels that it strongly protested if the article represented an official stance, Kyodo news agency reported.

China said the article was written by the authors in their capacity as researchers, Mr Suga said.

Japan and China are currently locked in a territorial dispute over islands that lie to the south of Okinawa, called Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China.

Japan controls the islands and sparked anger in China when it bought three of them from their private Japanese owner late last year.

Since then Chinese government ships have been sailing in and out of what Japan says are its territorial waters, as Beijing presses its claim in an increasingly assertive manner.

Japan says ownership of the uninhabited islands is not up for discussion, in a row which has seen ties chill significantly between the neighbours.

Some observers linked the comments on Okinawa to the war of words over the East China Sea islands.

[FBM]

The right wing is waxing over there. Abe seems to be trying to deny that Japan's actions pre-WWII fit the definition of "aggression," too.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

The Japanese should question whether or not they really need Okies in their country at all.

[Jason]

Curious.. I wonder if China wants a sovereign Okinawa to reduce the U.S. military presence in their proximity as, obviously, the treaties allow U.S. military bases on Okinawa would no longer be valid as they were made with Japan..

[Warren Dew]

Curious.. I wonder if China wants a sovereign Okinawa to reduce the U.S. military presence in their proximity as, obviously, the treaties allow U.S. military bases on Okinawa would no longer be valid as they were made with Japan.

More likely the Chinese military is just lobbying for a bigger share of the budget.

[pErvinalia]

The whole China vs US power play over that part of Asia is really starting to shit me. I don't know what the solution is, but I can't help think that if the US (either outright, or through its allies in the region) were to assert itself more in these disputes, China might be forced to pull its ugly mug in. The more the US/Sth Korea/Japan/Phillipines/etc let China (and NK) bullying them around without serious responses, the more they will continue to do it.

As you probably know, I'm no fan of US imperialism and foreign policy. But I'm less of a fan of China's. Quite frankly, I'd prefer if the US retain the dominant position in power in that region instead of China.

[Warren Dew]

I'm much more concerned with the Japanese militancy that FBM mentions.

[FBM]

They are acting of late as if they're trying to justify some of return to expansionism...ultra-conservatives in power, ramping up territorial disputes...

[Gawdzilla Sama]

The whole China vs US power play over that part of Asia is really starting to shit me. I don't know what the solution is, but I can't help think that if the US (either outright, or through its allies in the region) were to assert itself more in these disputes, China might be forced to pull its ugly mug in. The more the US/Sth Korea/Japan/Phillipines/etc let China (and NK) bullying them around without serious responses, the more they will continue to do it.

As you probably know, I'm no fan of US imperialism and foreign policy. But I'm less of a fan of China's. Quite frankly, I'd prefer if the US retain the dominant position in power in that region instead of China.

I can't wait for Sandi to find this.

[Tyrannical]

Funny how the rabid anti-fascists fail to see "communist" China as a fascist state.

[JimC]

Funny how the rabid anti-fascists fail to see "communist" China as a fascist state.

Not true. Many people who would identify themselves as anti-fascist would be seriously concerned with the current Chinese government, whether "fascist" is an appropriate label for them or not...

[Jason]

Hardly fascist.. no more than the United States is. I for one am glad that Canada is quickly moving our trade to China and away from the failing economy of the United States.

[JimC]

Hardly fascist.. no more than the United States is. I for one am glad that Canada is quickly moving our trade to China and away from the failing economy of the United States.

Learn to enjoy rice & stir-fry...

[Jason]

It'll be a nice change from cheeseburgers and freedom fries.

[pErvinalia]

The whole China vs US power play over that part of Asia is really starting to shit me. I don't know what the solution is, but I can't help think that if the US (either outright, or through its allies in the region) were to assert itself more in these disputes, China might be forced to pull its ugly mug in. The more the US/Sth Korea/Japan/Phillipines/etc let China (and NK) bullying them around without serious responses, the more they will continue to do it.

As you probably know, I'm no fan of US imperialism and foreign policy. But I'm less of a fan of China's. Quite frankly, I'd prefer if the US retain the dominant position in power in that region instead of China.

I can't wait for Sandi to find this.

He's not going to be happy, is he?