"Bought Land in Okinawa," Boast by Chinese Person... Japanese Netizens 'Flustered'

Partial Purchase of Uninhabited Island Near US Military Base
Some Raise Security Concerns
Japanese Government Explains "Not Subject to Regulation"

The entire Japanese archipelago was thrown into an uproar after it was revealed that a Chinese woman purchased part of an uninhabited island in Okinawa Prefecture under a corporate name. In particular, some netizens have raised security concerns as the island is known to be adjacent to a U.S. military base near Okinawa.

Local Japanese media such as NHK and TV Asahi reported on the 15th (local time) that a Chinese woman in her 30s, identified as Ms. A, bought part of Yanaha Island in northern Okinawa Prefecture under the name of a Chinese consulting company.

The total area of Yanaha Island is 740,000 ㎥, and the land purchased by the woman accounts for about half, approximately 380,000 ㎥. According to Japanese media reports, the purchase contracts were made twice, on December 24, 2020, and February 2, 2021.

The sea in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. The photo is not related to any specific expression in the article. Photo by Yonhap News

Although the contracts were concluded several years ago, the issue became a hot topic online recently after Ms. A posted videos of the island on her social media. In the video, Ms. A says, "I bought the island about three years ago for business purposes," and adds, "My family has been involved in real estate for a long time." Through the corporate website, Ms. A explains that she plans to develop the purchased land into a resort.

After this fact became known, netizens from both Japan and China showed contrasting reactions. On Weibo (the Chinese version of SNS), comments such as "China's territory has expanded," "Patriotic act," and "Shouldn't the name be changed to a Chinese one?" expressed joy, while Japanese netizens expressed concerns, saying things like "Isn't this a security issue?" It was also reported that terms like "Chinese buying island" and "Japanese land" became popular search keywords on various Japanese portals.

Okinawa Prefecture US Forces Japan Air Base / Photo by Yonhap News

Notably, Okinawa Prefecture, where Yanaha Island is located, hosts U.S. military bases in Japan. It is a place where large-scale U.S. military facilities such as Marine Corps bases, Air Force airfields, and helicopter landing pads can be permanently stationed, and it is a strategic key point for projecting U.S. military power into the Pacific in emergencies.

Previously, in June 2021, Japanese authorities enacted a law prohibiting foreigners from acquiring land around key national facilities such as Self-Defense Force bases and nuclear power plants. However, Ms. A's corporation completed the land purchase contract in February of the same year, four months before the law was passed.

Amid growing controversy, Hirokazu Matsuno, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary, explained at a press conference on the morning of the 13th, "(The island purchased by Ms. A) is not a border uninhabited island with security or territorial sea baseline significance, nor is it inhabited," and added, "Therefore, it is not subject to legal regulation."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.