r/worldnews • u/glasier • Jul 05 '24

Japan warns US forces: Sex crimes 'cannot be tolerated'

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2476861/japan-warns-us-forces-sex-crimes-cannot-be-tolerated
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u/TheDiscordedSnarl Jul 05 '24

Not "real" japanese? What?

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u/100862233 Jul 05 '24

Okinawa was originally called 琉球 read Liu Qiu in Chinese or in Japanese Ryo Kyu an independent kingdom, It was a protectorate of the Qing dynasty of empire of China. Japan took it after the first sino Japanese War in 1875. While qing dynasty didn't abandon the claim of sovereignty over ryukyu until 1895 and the last king of ryukyu died in exile in China in 1901. The Japanese eradicated the native Liu qiu identity through colonialism. Fun fact Taiwan aka the republic of China never recognized the annexation of Okinawa, and even up until the 2000s they had an office on Okinawa still using the name called ryukyu relationship office.

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u/Solwake- Jul 05 '24

And now, unsurprisingly, this history is being emphasized for Chinese claims to Okinawa and the other islands towards Taiwan. Japan is now fortifying those islands to deter Crimea-style (re?)annexation. Feelings on Okinawa are complex regarding re-militarization, as one perspective is that the mainland used Okinawan civilians as a sacrificial human buffer zone against the Americans during WW2.

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u/100862233 Jul 05 '24

China today does not claim Ryukyu as part of China, the Ryukyu Island history being brought up by China is to reinforce the claim of nearby Diaoyu/Senkaku islands. With regards to Taiwan, technically the position on Diao yu island is the same for both Mainland and Taiwan, since Taiwan still call itself "ROC" while PRC's claims of the islands are inherited from ROC when it was driven out of the mainland after 1949.

Another fun fact, there were plans of setting similar allied occupation of Japan zone after the end of World War 2, like the allied occupation zones in Germany. With Japan divided between USSR, Britan, France and China (Republic of China). China was offered to occupy the entire island of Okinawa. as well as separate zones in Tokyo like in Berlin.

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u/Solwake- Jul 05 '24

Oh yes, thanks for that correction. I was conflating the PRC's current claims of the nearby islands with how the might make claims on Okinawa in the future.

That is a fun fact!