African Entrepreneurship Record

Chapter 588: Chapter 266 Reaching a Consensus

Japan wanted to be firm, but the disparity in strength forced them to bow their head, so Ambassador Kade once again met with the Japanese diplomatic officials.

Kade warmly received the previous Japanese diplomat, Kodama Yasuyuki, and seeing Kodama’s gloomy expression, Kade felt delighted: ”Your Excellency Kodama, we meet again.”

”Yes indeed! Ambassador Kade, this time your wish has come true, congratulations to you,” Kodama Yasuyuki said through gritted teeth.

”Hahaha, not at all! By the way, has your government accepted our country’s proposal?” Kade asked.

Kodama Yasuyuki sighed and said, ”Yes, considering the friendship between our two nations, the Japanese government has decided to make concessions on the Senkaku Islands issue.”

Kade emphasized, ”It’s the Southern Ryukyu Islands.”

”Regardless of the naming issue, this is our bottom line, otherwise, it would be difficult to explain to our citizens, and after reaching a consensus this time, I’m afraid I will become a traitor in Japan, affecting my career,” Kodama Yasuyuki said.

Kodama Yasuyuki likely wouldn’t be working in the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs anymore, as giving away the Southern Ryukyu Islands certainly requires taking a break at home, followed by a transfer to another department. After all, as it’s a government decision, he can’t take the blame undeservedly since he hasn’t made any fundamental mistake either.

Kade heard the implication in Kodama Yasuyuki’s words but didn’t mind too much; it was a matter of national strength, not diplomacy. After all, diplomacy requires the backing of national power, otherwise, today it might be himself facing humiliation.

Nonetheless, out of professional etiquette, he still comforted him: ”Mr. Kodama Yasuyuki, there’s no need to mind too much. We are all diplomatic personnel and know that diplomacy is not easy. I believe the Japanese government won’t mistreat you since it wasn’t your fault.”

Like a cat crying over a mouse, thought Kodama Yasuyuki, but he still replied, ”Heh, I’m not a pessimistic person. Ambassador Kade doesn’t need to comfort me. However, such a significant concession isn’t without conditions.”

”As long as the conditions are not too excessive, we can still consider them, so Mr. Kodama Yasuyuki might as well state them, and then we can negotiate further,” Kade said, having achieved what he wanted naturally needed to give the other side face.

Kodama Yasuyuki didn’t hesitate; in diplomacy, there is no room for personal feelings. Of course, diplomacy essentially involves making connections, just like making friends. There’s a saying, ’Man proposes, God disposes,’ so playing the emotional card is essential.

”The Japanese government’s requirements mainly include three points. First, regarding the naming of the Senkaku Islands, we will not change it. The Senkaku Islands have inseparable historical and cultural ties with Japan, so this name must be preserved.”

This is understandable; after all, East Africa was like snatching a piece of meat from Japan’s mouth, so naturally, they are not pleased. However, Kade wouldn’t casually agree.

He said to Kodama Yasuyuki, ”The naming issue can be viewed separately; it doesn’t matter to us if you choose to use your name, but East Africa will still continue using the name Southern Ryukyu Islands, as it is also the traditional name passed down by the Ryukyu Kingdom.”

Regarding the naming traditions of the Ryukyu Kingdom, naturally, it follows the standards of the Far Eastern Empire. However, these vassal states of the Far Eastern Empire belonged to a cultural circle, deriving their legitimacy from the imperial decrees. Examples include Korea, An Nan, and Japan, which exhibit thorough sinicization. The opposite examples are derogatory terms like Rong and Di, Barbarians, and Tatars.

In contrast, these countries that were accepted or recognized by the Far Eastern Empire were considered and translated with trustworthiness, expressiveness, elegance.

As for the vassal states of the Far Eastern Empire, their naming follows a sort of mutual agreement; hence, the translation of the Ryukyu Kingdom’s names adheres to the rules of the Far Eastern Empire, leaving no room for dispute. East Africa follows the local tradition for naming, primarily for ease of memory for Ernst, like locating the Southern Ryukyu Islands directly, while the term Senkaku Islands leaves Ernst confused.

Kodama Yasuyuki said, somewhat helplessly, ”Is such a small request impossible?”

Kade: ”Since the names are not internationally recognized, like how the Netherlands is officially ’Netherlands’, but other countries habitually call it ’Holland’, this issue is trivial and doesn’t need to be a point of contention. At most, we can use both names in the agreement.”

Kodama Yasuyuki: ”Okay, we can reluctantly accept this outcome. The second point is that the sovereignty of the Miyako Strait must belong to us.”

If the first request were a surface issue, the second one was Japan’s true objective. What are the two main strategic roles of the Southern Ryukyu Islands?

Firstly, it’s to connect Egg Bay Island, forming a crucial part of the first island chain that blocks the mainland of the Far Eastern Empire; secondly, it’s to control the vital maritime passage of the Miyako Strait.

Of course, this strait doesn’t hold much importance for East Africa. The Miyako Strait isn’t a narrow area like the Mand Strait but rather broad. Besides the Miyako Strait, the entire first island chain, although appearing tightly sealed, is in reality riddled with gaps, offering plenty of options. So the so-called first island chain the U.S. created in the previous life had significant loopholes, and to truly blockade the Far Eastern Empire, one would need a sufficient naval force to fill these gaps. However, it’s impossible for the U.S. to concentrate its global naval power against the Far East, and even in the 21st century, such a strategy is unwise, as using missiles to hit warships is very cost-effective. The U.S.’s true grip on the Far Eastern Empire is ironically the Malacca Strait and Hormuz Strait, but the U.S. doesn’t control the Hormuz Strait, and Iran isn’t to be trifled with either.

Therefore, Kade said, ”The issue of Miyako Strait’s sovereignty can be discussed, but East Africa must have the right of free passage and the benefit of free development.”

Kade’s approach was to find a middle ground, where nominal sovereignty might be handed to Japan, but East Africa would still enjoy actual benefits.

Kodama Yasuyuki pondered for a moment and then said, ”Agreed.”

East Africa had already settled in the Southern Ryukyu Islands. Even if Japan wanted to monopolize the Miyako Strait, it wasn’t feasible. However, holding the sovereign rights could still offer them leverage.

As for leverage, naturally, it’s leverage in case of war. Japan wasn’t generous enough to simply gift the Southern Ryukyu Islands to East Africa. Currently, East Africa’s power obliged them to make concessions, but once Japan became stronger, they would aim to reclaim it.

Kodama Yasuyuki: ”Lastly, the third point involves publicity. We’ve ceded the Southern Ryukyu Islands, but it’s hard to justify to our citizens, so the sovereignty issue over the Southern Ryukyu Islands should be temporarily shelved, categorizing it as an undetermined sovereign area.”

”That’s unnecessary; the sovereignty of the Southern Ryukyu Islands lies with the Far Eastern Empire. We have negotiated and signed agreements with the Far Eastern Empire on this matter, and we are merely managing the area on their behalf,” East Africa intervened in the Southern Ryukyu Islands under the name of the Far Eastern Empire. Therefore, there is no dispute with Japan; any issues would be between Japan and the Far Eastern Empire.

Thus, Kade didn’t plan to entangle himself on this issue, and Japan was happy with this arrangement since dealing with the Far Eastern Empire was supposedly easier than handling East Africa.