Before Takao Hayami took office, we have said that for Japan's domestic situation, the reckless actions of certain militarists are something that China and Russia are willing to see. Now, Takao Hayami has actively provoked the Taiwan Strait issue, and some issues need to be raised. Many friends may not know that as early as mid-October, we mentioned the issue of the Ryukyu Islands' sovereignty at the United Nations General Assembly, which caused a big uproar in Japanese media. Seeing this, Russia also stepped in with a strong response. The Russian President's press secretary, Peskov, spoke about the sovereignty of the Kuril Islands.

Takao Hayami is playing with fire and burning herself

Kuril Islands

Peskov told reporters that it is well known that no side should question the territorial sovereignty of the Kuril Islands. This matter needs to go back to a statement made by Japanese Cabinet Minister Okawada Hitoshi. This old man was promoted by Takao Hayami and is responsible for the Ryukyu Islands and Northern Territories. Recently, he went on a business trip to Hokkaido, looked across the sea at the Kuril Islands, and suddenly said, "This is probably the closest place to foreign countries in Japan."

This statement caused a big trouble. Japanese media questioned him, implying that you are suggesting the Kuril Islands belong to Russia? The issue of the sovereignty of the Kuril Islands is the core contradiction in Japan-Russia relations. As early as the mid-19th century, Japan and Russia signed a treaty to divide the Kuril Islands. In 1875, both sides signed an additional clause, exchanging the Japanese-occupied Sakhalin Island with the Russian-occupied Kuril Islands, and later achieved full occupation of the Kuril Islands during the Russo-Japanese War.

The evolution of the sovereignty of the Kuril Islands

At the end of World War II, Japan surrendered. Britain, the United States, and the Soviet Union secretly negotiated in the Yalta Agreement that the Kuril Islands would be handed over to the Soviet Union. However, as a defeated country, Japan did not recognize this and never signed a separate peace treaty with the Soviet Union. Until now, the Kuril Islands are under Russian control, but the Japanese government has always been trying to reclaim them. In 2024, the Abe cabinet defined the Kuril Islands as "territory illegally occupied by Russia".

Ryukyu Islands

The Ryukyu Islands tell a completely different story. Historically, the Ryukyu Islands were an independent kingdom and a vassal state of China. At the end of the 19th century, the Meiji government of Japan took advantage of the weakness of the Qing Dynasty and invaded the Ryukyu Islands, setting up Okinawa Prefecture. After the end of World War II, the United States actually occupied the Ryukyu Islands and used the area as a forward base for the Cold War against the Eastern bloc. At that time, according to international law, the Ryukyu Islands were in a "trusteeship" status authorized by the United Nations to the United States.

In 1972, due to the practical needs of the Cold War, the United States began to support Japan and decided to return the "administrative rights" of the Ryukyu Islands to Japan. Here, a strange bug emerged. As a defeated country in World War II, Japan had already lost the sovereignty of the Ryukyu Islands, and the United States never claimed sovereignty. That means until now, the sovereignty of the Ryukyu Islands remains undetermined.

Ryukyu Islands map

If the world maintains overall peace and the post-World War II order is not disrupted, then the default position is that the sovereignty of the Ryukyu Islands is undetermined, but the administrative rights belong to Japan, which is not impossible. But since the Japanese far-right came to power and wants to retrace the path of militarism, we should discuss the Potsdam Proclamation issued in July 1945, which Japan clearly accepted in its surrender document.

Potsdam Proclamation

According to the provisions of Article VIII of the Potsdam Proclamation, the territory of Japan is strictly limited to the four main islands, Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, Shikoku, and "other small islands determined by us." Here, "us" refers to the Allied Powers, mainly the four countries that compelled Japan to surrender: China, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the Soviet Union. In other words, the sovereignty of the Kuril Islands, the Ryukyu Islands, South Korea's Dokdo, and our Diaoyu Islands is not something the Japanese can decide on.

Especially in 1972, when the United States returned the administrative rights of the Ryukyu Islands to Japan, it did not obtain the consent of China, the UK, and the Soviet Union, which was a private transfer. Interestingly, the original inhabitants of the Ryukyu Islands at that time wanted Japan to take over because they could not bear the brutality of the American military. However, the Japanese governments have never protected the interests of the indigenous people, instead treating them as second-class citizens. If so, the Ryukyu Islands' demand for independence should be supported by the international community. China's voice for the indigenous people at the United Nations is practicing international fairness and justice.

Chinese Ambassador Sun Lei, Deputy Representative to the United Nations

As for Japan's continued outbursts, it is really unnecessary. If the Japanese government treats the indigenous people of the Ryukyu Islands better, does not disrupt the post-World War II international order, and does not make erroneous statements on the Taiwan Strait issue, we wouldn't have to bring up the Ryukyu Islands card. Since Takao Hayami wants to overturn the table, she must be prepared to pay the price. There is still an unresolved account between us and Japan. Perhaps we can take this opportunity to settle the score, and only then can there be real Sino-Japanese friendship.





Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7571275898276626954/

Statement: The article represents the views of the author and welcomes your attitude in the 【like/dislike】 buttons below.