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Since ancient times, Okinawa has attracted the attention of the world for its unique culture and history. It was once an independent country with a rich history, the Ryukyu Kingdom. Throughout history, the Ryukyus have played an important role in bridging the cultures and trades of the East and the West. However, with the evolution of the times and the reconstruction of the political map, the statehood of the Ryukyu Kingdom has lost its glory. Today, some local voices are calling for the restoration of the former name of "Ryukyu", which has aroused widespread discussion in all walks of life.
Okinawa and the Ryukyus: A Historical Lookback
Since ancient times, the Ryukyu Islands have played an important role as a transportation fortress and a hub for cultural exchange. The Ryukyu Kingdom, a country that once existed in the archipelago, has a long and unique history. The Ryukyu Kingdom dates back to the late 12th and early 13th centuries AD, and was originally governed by a number of local powers, including the Three Mountains (Kitayama, Nakayama, and Minamizan). These local powers competed with each other until 1429, when the Sangbashi of Nakayama unified the three mountains, and the Ryukyu Kingdom was officially established, with its capital in Shuri, marking the rise of the Ryukyu nation.
The Ryukyu Kingdom implemented a centralized system in its heyday and established legitimacy by paying tribute to the Ming (later Qing) dynasty. Under the tributary system, Ryukyu not only established close trade and cultural ties with China, but also served as a trade transit point, and exchanges with Southeast Asia and Japan were also very frequent. Through these international trades, the Ryukyus were able to acquire a wealth of goods and technology, and to integrate the cultural essence of China, Japan, and Southeast Asia into a unique Ryukyu culture.
Although the Ryukyus had long paid tribute to the Central Plains Dynasty, the Ryukyu Kingdom had gradually come under Japanese influence in the 15th century. From 1470 onwards, relations between the Ryukyu Kingdom and Japan began to deepen, and in 1609 the Satsuma Domain (a feudal lord of Japan) invaded the Ryukyus, and Ryukyu became a vassal state of the Satsuma Domain. Although the customs of tributary China and the system of the kingdom were still retained, the foreign policy and economic trade of the Ryukyus were mostly controlled by Japan.
In the mid-19th century, with the rise of imperialism around the world, the position of the Ryukyu Kingdom became more fragile. In 1872, the Meiji government declared Ryukyu a vassal state of Japan, and in 1879, the Ryukyus were formally incorporated into Japan, and Okinawa Prefecture was established, and the Ryukyu Kingdom came to an end. King Shotai was forced to relocate to Tokyo, and the people of the Ryukyus began to live the same life as the native Japanese residents.
Although the Ryukyu Kingdom has disappeared, the unique historical and cultural heritage it created has not been extinguished. The language, art, architecture, religion, and traditions of the Ryukyus continue to influence Okinawa and the surrounding region to this day. Traditional Ryukyu music and dance are still active in Okinawa today, and have become an important part of Ryukyu culture. Shurijo Castle, a symbol of the Ryukyu Dynasty, was destroyed in World War II and later rebuilt, but it still stands, bearing witness to the glory of the Ryukyu Kingdom.
After World War II, the opportunity for recovery was missed
Returning to Japan after the Meiji Restoration, Japan, which was growing stronger and stronger, began their path of colonial expansion. In 1879, taking advantage of modernization, Japan formally incorporated the Ryukyu Islands into its territory and changed the Ryukyu domain to Okinawa Prefecture, a process that met with little real resistance. At that time, the Qing Dynasty, which was gradually declining, was busy dealing with various crises at home and abroad, and was unable to recover the loss of the Ryukyu Islands.
Subsequently, due to the defeat of the First Sino-Japanese War, the Qing Dynasty was forced to sign the "Treaty of Shimonoseki", which humiliated the country, and completely lost its sovereignty over Taiwan and the Penghu Islands. It can be said that since then, it has been even more difficult for the Qing Dynasty to recover the Ryukyus, and the originally vague question of the ownership of the Ryukyus has fallen into a long-term unresolved.
At the end of World War II, the Ryukyu Islands became the focus of contention between the Allies and the Japanese forces. In 1945, World War II finally ended, Japan was defeated, and according to the provisions of the Potsdam Proclamation, Japan had to abandon all pre-war aggression territories. Originally, it was a good time to readjust the ownership of the Ryukyus. Regrettably, however, Chiang Kai-shek was unable to make a firm decision during the negotiations between the United States and the Nationalist Government on the ownership of the Ryukyus, and he proposed that China and the United States jointly occupy the Ryukyus and establish an international trusteeship. However, such a proposal apparently did not make substantial progress, and eventually led to the unilateral occupation of the Ryukyu Islands by the United States.
The signing of the San Francisco Peace Treaty in 1951 put an end to this historical miscalculation. Based on its strategic considerations during the Cold War, the United States drew up a peace treaty on its own, excluding Chinese mainland and not including the Taiwan authorities as a signatory state, and unilaterally imposed the so-called "exclusive trusteeship" on the Ryukyus.
Against this backdrop of international politics, the ownership of the Ryukyu Islands, which had the opportunity to be corrected, has deviated from the orbit for various reasons, which has also become a regret in China's modern history. It was not until 1971 that Japan regained sovereignty over the Ryukyu Islands with the signing of the Agreement on the Return of Okinawa. However, throughout the process, it is clear that in the post-war geostrategy, the fate of small countries is often susceptible to the influence of the great power game and the international political trend, and cannot fully control their own destiny.
Contemporary Okinawa: The Discussion of Reverting to Titles
To this day, many people on the island of Okinawa still retain Ryukyu culture. In terms of language, art, religion and social customs, Okinawa is distinctly different from the rest of Japan. This cultural uniqueness has received more attention in recent years, with some Okinawans even beginning to propose the revival of the appellation "Ryukyu" to emphasize their distinctive regional identity and cultural heritage. However, the restoration of a historical title and the restoration of statehood are two very different things. The former may involve aspects such as local autonomy and cultural revival, while the latter may involve international law and political structure, which is undoubtedly much more difficult than changing the name.
Can statehood be restored?
In discussing the question of whether Okinawa can restore its status as a Ryukyu state, we inevitably enter into a complex chess game of international politics. First, there is the issue of "State recognition" in international law. According to the traditional theory of state recognition, in order for an entity to become a state, it needs to meet certain conditions: a fixed territory, a stable population, effective government control, and the ability to establish diplomatic relations with other countries.
In real politics, in addition to these theoretical conditions, it is also necessary to take into account multiple factors such as great power games, geopolitics, and economic interests. Japan could not easily relinquish control of Okinawa, and reasonable local autonomy might be the most logical outcome. But even then, the likelihood of restoring statehood is almost nil, unless it can resonate widely in the international community and receive sufficient support.
Okinawa's future development does not need to be confined to the controversy over whether or not it can be restored to statehood. More realistically, we will strengthen regional autonomy, protect and pass on the cultural heritage of the Ryukyus, and promote exchanges between Okinawa and the rest of the world through the power of culture. By promoting Okinawa's unique culture such as music, dance, and handicrafts, it will not only promote the cultural confidence of the region, but also enhance the region's international influence.
Epilogue:
The question of "Can Okinawa restore its Ryukyu designation and restore its status as a nation?" is not only a review of history, but also a reflection on the future. In the search for answers, the residents of Okinawa and those interested in Japan and around the world must build a consensus that understands the vicissitudes of history while facing up to the norms of reality and international trends. Although it is difficult to restore the status of the country, the journey of inheriting and carrying forward the profound culture of the Ryukyus is a long one. May this brilliant island, with its unique cultural charm and indomitable national spirit, bloom its own dazzling brilliance on the world stage.