Chinese activist group claims Ryukyu islands belong to China, mentions Japanese counter‑influence efforts

168 Chinese Race.”* Hong Kong has long been a base for flag-waving Chinese activists agitating on the issue of the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands. “The Chinese race does not fight wars. The Chinese race only safeguards peace!” runs one pronouncement which was designed as an outreach to potential supporters on Okinawa. “The Chinese race is relying on you. The Chinese race today relies on you, and the Chinese race can rely on you.”° Even more extreme is the way that the group frames its assertion that the Ryukus (Senkaku/Diaoyu) should become part of China. “The Japanese people are a part of the Chinese race and Japan is originally of Chinese blood,” the group’s president, Zhao Dong, says in one posting. For the CCP in Beijing, with an eye on the long game, building links between malcontents in Okinawa and patriots in Hong Kong could easily pay off in the future. Countering Chinese Influence The Japanese government has been at the forefront of attempts to counter Chinese efforts for influence throughout Asia. It maintains a robust, if under-the-radar, relationship with Taiwan. It has strong ties to Vietnam and it has attempted to modify China’s influence over Cambodia and Laos, although to little effect. Japan has a close relationship with New Delhi that involves not simply trade but also security. Japan and India recently unveiled the Asia-Africa Growth Corridor as a way to compete with Chinese influence in Africa. Japan’s ties to Australia are deep as well.’ Japan’s government was the source of the expression “Free and open Indo- Pacific” as a counterpoint to China’s attempts to turn the Western Pacific (or at least the South China Sea) into a Chinese lake. Moreover, Japanese firms currently are outpacing Chinese firms in terms of infrastructure investment in Southeast Asia. NOTES 1 Justin McCurry, “China Lays Claim to Okinawa as Territory Dispute with Japan Escalates,” Guardian (UK), May 15, 2013, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/may/15/china-okinawa-dispute-japan-ryukyu. 2 Taiwanese newspapers have already covered the Organizing Committee in a rather disparaging fashion: “Pushing Japan to Hand Back the Ryukyus: Chinese People Draw up an International Lawsuit,” “(eB Si 5t SR PB)A HAL BIRR,” Liberty Times (Taiwan), August 2, 2016, accessed October 11, 2018, http://news.ltn .com.tw/news/world/paper/1017100. 3 “China Brilliant Cause Investment Group CCTV International News Introduction,” Yanzhao Nightly/ Shijiazhuang Daily, accessed October 11, 2018, http://www.hnqxgs.com/yzwbfz/2196344.html. 4 “Organising Committee for the Ryukyu Islands Special Administrative Region of the Chinese Race,” Weibo, accessed October 11, 2018, https://www.weibo.com/u/1931192953?is_hot=1. 5 Ryukyu Network, Organising Committee for the Special Administrative Region of the Chinese Race, accessed October 11, 2018, http://www.ryukyu-china.com. Appendix 2 HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_020627