China considers Ryukyu islands as leverage in geopolitical rivalry with Japan

Chinese scholars are increasingly focusing on the historical and strategic significance of the Ryukyu Islands, now part of Japan's Okinawa Prefecture amid rising geopolitical tensions in the Asia-Pacific region.

Chinese scholars are calling for increased attention to Ryukyu, the ancient kingdom now known as Japan’s southernmost prefecture of Okinawa, linking it to China’s national security concerns. Observers suggest that this push might be part of Beijing’s strategy to challenge Japan’s stance on Taiwan, although it is unlikely that Beijing will contest Japan’s sovereignty over Okinawa, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Ryukyu was a Chinese tributary state in the East China Sea for over 500 years before being annexed by Japan in 1879. Recently, it has gained renewed attention following a seminar at Dalian Maritime University in northeast China on September 1, where plans were announced to establish a Ryukyu research centre. The conference was attended by over 20 Chinese academics, including Gao Zhiguo, President of the Chinese Society of Law of the Sea.

Gao emphasised the deep political and historical importance of the Ryukyu issue, linking it to national security and the broader goal of reunification with Taiwan, which Beijing views as part of its territory. He highlighted the need for preparing various risks and countermeasures in advance. Most countries, including the US, do not recognise Taiwan as an independent state and oppose any forceful changes to its status. Wang Yong, former president of the People’s Public Security University of China, also spoke at the seminar, advocating for the Ryukyu issue to be approached with a focus on security.

He suggested that it should be addressed by examining historical context, dealing with current realities, and preparing for future developments. While the university has not specified a timeline for the opening of the Ryukyu research center, the initiative has sparked speculation that Beijing might seek to challenge Japan’s control over Okinawa. This discussion follows Chinese President Xi Jinping’s reference to Okinawa as Ryukyu during a visit to a national history archive in June of last year. 

Xi made the reference while reviewing a record of a diplomatic mission to the Kingdom of Ryukyu from the Ming dynasty, as reported by the Communist Party’s People’s Daily. Beijing has used historical documents to support its claims over the disputed Diaoyu Islands, known in Japan as the Senkaku Islands. Lim Chuan Tiong, a researcher at the Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia at the University of Tokyo, noted that the renewed focus on Ryukyu is partly driven by Japan’s growing alignment with the US and its closer ties with Taiwan. In 2021, Tokyo and Washington emphasized the importance of stability in the Taiwan Strait, with former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe warning that a crisis in Taiwan would affect Japan and the Japan-US alliance. 

Lim suggested that there is a view in China that if Japan continues to engage with Taiwan, Beijing might use the Ryukyu issue as a countermeasure. However, Lim believes Beijing is unlikely to challenge Japan’s sovereignty over Okinawa, noting that when diplomatic relations were established in 1972, both nations agreed to respect each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Raising the issue of Ryukyu’s status could provoke a strong reaction from Japan.