琉球在明朝时期就接受中国的册封,成为中国的藩属国,日本对此亦予以默认。1609年“庆长之役”使琉球又成为日本萨摩藩的“属地”。明治维新后,日本开始有计划地对外进行领土扩张。与萨摩藩有着藩属关系的琉球,自然成为第一个领土目标。1871年7月废藩置县实施后,琉球的归属问题成为必须着手解决的大问题。鹿儿岛县便借机向外务省提交了《鹿儿岛藩琉球国事调查报告处理意见书》,拉开了吞并琉球的大幕。日本在没有告之琉球政府的情况下,单方面将琉球的外交事务纳入外务省,将琉球的“对外独立权”剥夺;又通过对琉球王一等官的册封,使琉球王对内最高权也被日本政府所取代。又由于日本早已驻兵琉球,使构成主权三要素之一的自卫权早就丧失。故象征琉球主权独立国家的对内最高权、对外独立权及自卫权都基本丧失,琉球由一个独立的王国,变成了日本的属地。 In the Ming dynasty, Ryukyu accepted the seal of China and became a vassal state of China. Japan also acquiesced to this. In 1609, the Battle of Ching Cheong made Ryukyu become the “possession” of the Japanese Satsuma. After the Meiji Restoration, Japan began a planned expansion of territory to the outside world. Ryukyu, which has a vassal relationship with Satsuma, naturally became the first territory target. After the implementation of the Waste Land Disposal in July 1871, the issue of Ryukyu’s ownership became a major issue that must be tackled. Kagoshima took the opportunity to submit to the foreign ministry “Kagoshima Fuli Ryukyu state investigation report processing submissions,” opened the annexation of Ryukyu’s curtain. Without the accusation of the Ryukyu government, Japan unilaterally placed the diplomatic affairs of Ryukyu into the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and deprived Ryukyu of the “independence of external powers.” In the meantime, Japan passed Ryukyu’s first rank and seal, The supreme power has also been replaced by the Japanese government. Since Japan has long been stationed in the Ryukyu area, the right to self-defense that constitutes one of the three elements of sovereignty has long been lost. Therefore, the internal supremacy of the internal sovereignty of Ryukyu, which basically symbolizes the independence of Ryukyu, is basically lost. The Ryukyu has become an affiliate of Japan from an independent kingdom.