Chapter 575 Reaching a Consensus
Japan wanted to be tough, but the gap in strength forced it to bow its head, so Minister Card met with Japanese diplomatic officials again.
Kade received the Japanese diplomat Kudo Yexiu with a smile. Looking at Kudo Yexiu's gloomy face, Kade felt happy: "Mr. Kudo, we meet again."
"Yes! Minister Kade, this time you got what you wanted. Congratulations." Kudo Yexiu said gritting his teeth.
"Hahaha, no way! Does your government agree with our plan?" asked Kade.
Kudo Yaxiu sighed and said, "Yes, our Japanese government has decided to make concessions on the issue of the Sakishima Islands in consideration of the friendship between our two countries."
Card emphasized: "It is the South Ryukyu Islands."
"Let's not talk about the name issue for now. This is our bottom line. Otherwise, it will be hard to explain to the people. And after reaching a consensus this time, I'm afraid I will become a sinner in Japan and my career will be affected."
Kudo Yexiu said this, but it is very likely that he will not work in the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. After all, if he gives up the South Ryukyu Islands, he will definitely be unemployed at home for a period of time, and then change to another department to continue working. After all, he cannot take the blame for the decision of the Japanese government for nothing, after all, he did not make any mistakes in principle.
Kade heard the subtext in Kudo Yashu's words, but didn't take it too seriously. This was a difference in national strength and had nothing to do with diplomacy. After all, diplomacy needed national strength as support. Otherwise, he would probably be the one embarrassed today.
However, out of professionalism, he still comforted him: "Mr. Kudo Yexiu, don't worry too much. We are all diplomats, and we all know that diplomacy is not easy. I believe the Japanese government will not treat you unfairly. After all, it is impossible to do something. This is not your fault."
The cat cries over the rat, but it's just fake sympathy, Kudo Yexiu thought to himself, but he still took over the conversation and said, "Haha, I'm not a pessimistic person either. Minister Kade doesn't need to comfort me, but we made such a big concession not without conditions."
"As long as the conditions are not too excessive, we can still consider it, so Mr. Kudo Yexiu might as well tell us first, and then we can negotiate." Card had already obtained the result he wanted, so naturally he had to give the other party face.
Kudo Yashuu was not pretentious. Diplomacy is no small matter and personal emotions are not allowed to be mixed in. Of course, diplomacy is mainly about communication, so it is the same as making friends. There is a saying that man proposes, God disposes, so the emotional card is also indispensable.
"The Japanese government's demands are mainly the following three points. First, the name of the Sakishima Islands will not be changed. The Sakishima Islands have inseparable historical and cultural exchanges with Japan, so the name must be retained."
This is understandable. East Africa has snatched the fat meat from Japan, so naturally it is not very willing to do so. However, Kade will not agree to it easily.
He said to Kudo Yexiu: "The naming issue can be considered separately. We don't mind if you want to use this name yourself, but East Africa will continue to use the name of the South Ryukyu Islands. After all, this is the original name of the South Ryukyu Islands, which was passed down by the Ryukyu Kingdom itself."
Regarding the place names of the Ryukyu Kingdom, they are naturally based on the standards of the Far Eastern Empire. However, vassal states of the Far Eastern Empire were originally a cultural circle, and their legal basis came from the enthronement of the Far Eastern Empire. For example, Korea, Annan, and Japan are all like this. This is a manifestation of complete sinicization. Negative examples are words like Rongdi, Manyi, and Tartar, which are not good words.
On the contrary, it is the countries that have accepted the title from the Far Eastern Empire, or the countries that have been recognized by the Far Eastern Empire, that will follow the process of faithfulness, expressiveness and elegance when translating for the Far Eastern Empire.
As for the vassal states of the Far Eastern Empire, their names are like Zhou Yu fighting Huang Gai, one willing to fight and the other willing to be beaten. Therefore, the translation of the name of the Kingdom of the Ryukyu Islands follows the rules of the Far Eastern Empire and there is no problem at all. The name of East Africa is also arranged directly according to the regional tradition. Of course, it is more for the convenience of Ernst's memory. For example, when it comes to the South Ryukyu Islands, Ernst can directly locate its approximate location, but when it comes to the Senshima Islands, Ernst is at a loss.
Kudo Yexiu said helplessly: "Is it impossible to fulfill such a small request?"
Card: "This name is different from one another, and it is not internationally recognized. For example, the official name of the Netherlands is the Netherlands, but other countries call it the Netherlands out of habit. So this issue is insignificant and does not need to become a point of dispute between the two sides. At most, both names can be used in the treaty."
Kudo Yexiu: "Well, we can barely accept this result. Now let's talk about the second point, which is that the sovereignty of the Miyako Strait must belong to us."
If the first request is just an extra, the second request is Japan’s real purpose. What are the two major strategic roles of the South Ryukyu Islands?
The first is to connect Danwan Island to form an important part of the first island chain that blockades the Far East Empire continent; the second is to control the Miyako Strait, an important sea route.
Of course, this strait does not actually have much use for East Africa. The Miyako Strait is not a narrow area like the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Instead, it is quite wide. In addition to the Miyako Strait, the entire first island chain looks very solid, but in fact it is leaky everywhere, and there are quite a lot of locations to choose from. Therefore, the so-called first island chain created by the United States in the past has quite large loopholes. If the United States really wants to blockade the Far East Empire, it must use a sufficient number of navies to fill these gaps. However, it is impossible for the United States to concentrate the global naval forces to fight the Far East, and this is a bad move in the 21st century. After all, it is very cost-effective to use missiles to attack warships. The real way for the United States to control the Far East Empire is the Strait of Malacca and the Strait of Hormuz, but the United States has no say in the Strait of Hormuz, and Iran is not jealous.
So Card said: "The sovereignty of the Miyako Strait can be discussed, but East Africa must have the right of free passage and the right to free development."
Kade's approach is still a compromise. The empty title can be given to Japan, but East Africa must also enjoy the actual benefits.
Kudo Yaxiu thought for a moment, then said, "Okay."
East Africa has already decided to stay in the South Ryukyu Islands, so even if Japan wants to monopolize the Miyako Strait, it is actually impossible. However, if the sovereignty is in Japan's hands, it can still take the initiative.
As for the initiative, it is naturally the initiative in the war. Japan is not so generous as to give the South Ryukyu Islands to East Africa. Now that East Africa is powerful, Japan has to make concessions. In the future, when Japan becomes stronger, it will still take it back.
Kudo Yakyu: "The third point is mainly about public opinion. We gave up the South Ryukyu Islands, but it is difficult to explain to the people. Therefore, the sovereignty issue of the South Ryukyu Islands should be temporarily shelved and defined as an area of undetermined sovereignty."
"That's not necessary. The sovereignty of the South Ryukyu Islands belongs to the Far Eastern Empire. We have negotiated this with the Far Eastern Empire and signed an agreement. We are just in charge of this place." East Africa intervened in the South Ryukyu Islands in the name of the Far Eastern Empire, so there is no dispute about this. Any dispute is between Japan and the Far Eastern Empire.
Therefore, Card did not intend to dwell on this issue, and Japan was happy with it. After all, the Far Eastern Empire was easier to deal with than East Africa.
(End of this chapter)
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