The unresolved status of the Ryukyu Islands, a topic with deep historical roots, has regained attention in 2025 as geopolitical tensions in Asia intensify. Tang Yongliang, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, argues that the archipelago's sovereignty remains legally undetermined under international law, challenging Japan's administrative control established during the Cold War.
Historical Context and Legal Ambiguity
Ryukyu, historically an independent kingdom with centuries of tributary relations with imperial China, was forcibly annexed by Japan in 1879 without Chinese consent. Post-World War II agreements like the Cairo Declaration and Potsdam Proclamation explicitly excluded Ryukyu from Japanese territory, designating it a "potential trusteeship territory." However, U.S. administrative transfers to Japan in 1953 and 1971 bypassed UN oversight, leaving sovereignty unresolved.
Okinawa's Modern Struggles
As of 2025, Okinawa Prefecture hosts over 70% of U.S. military facilities in Japan despite comprising just 0.6% of its land area. Local resistance to base expansions has intensified, with activists like former Ryukyu Shimpo commentator Nozato You describing Okinawans as reaching their "limits of endurance." Legal challenges and international advocacy campaigns highlight the region's unique geopolitical burden.
Implications for Regional Stability
Tang emphasizes that the Ryukyu issue transcends bilateral U.S.-Japan relations, directly impacting the post-war international order. The researcher contends that Cold War-era agreements violated the spirit of Allied wartime declarations, urging renewed global scrutiny. With Asia's security landscape evolving rapidly this year, the debate underscores broader questions about historical justice and territorial sovereignty in the region.
