Kasasa island, in the Seto Inland Sea, has only seven residents but its fate is strongly intertwined with relations between Tokyo and Beijing. The island, known as the “Hawaii” of Japan’s inland sea, sits close to two key military bases: Iwakuni US Marine Corps airbase and a Japanese Maritime Self-Defence force base.
When wealthy Chinese developers bought and began developing two plots of land, rumours of surveillance sparked concerns. One councillor claimed the island “could eventually become a Chinese island”. Critics note that the same laws apply to all landowners regardless of nationality, but the debate continues.
Foreign ownership of land in sensitive areas is rising. In the 12 months to March last year, Chinese investors were behind nearly half of hundreds of land acquisitions near sites deemed important for national security, according to NHK. All purchases were legal and approved by regulators.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has vowed to tighten regulations on land sales, tapping into public unease about immigration. Tokyo’s relationship with Beijing has worsened after Takaichi warned Japan could become militarily involved in a conflict over Taiwan, prompting China to ban exports of “dual-use” items to Japanese conglomerates.
The plots on Kasasa were bought almost a decade ago, but development only began late last year. A mechanical digger and cement mixer arrived, and steel poles and power lines were erected. According to the Kasasa Island Preservation Association, the owners are Chinese investors who bought via a Japanese real estate company. Their intentions remain unclear.
