Japanese media report that in recent years, Chinese capital has increasingly targeted islands in the Seto Inland Sea of Japan. Delegations from Dalian, China toured Kasasa Island, and Chinese nationals living in Tokyo and Saitama have also offered high prices to acquire land there.
A recent concern is that a Chinese national has quietly bought over 3,600 square meters of land on Kasasa Island, a small island near Yamaguchi Prefecture with only seven residents. The buyer cleared land, improved roads, and installed utility poles, allegedly to build private villas and a yacht dock.
Residents are alarmed due to the island’s proximity to key military sites, including the Kure Naval Base and former Etajima Army artillery facilities. They fear the land could be used for surveillance or other strategic purposes, especially since the Chinese National Defense Mobilization Law and Intelligence Law require Chinese citizens to cooperate with government orders, even abroad.
Although Japan passed the Important Land Survey Law in 2022 to investigate sensitive land sales, critics say it lacks enforcement power. Local officials warn Kasasa Island could become a Chinese-controlled outpost or drone base, likening it to a form of covert occupation.
Source: Epoch Times, July 29, 2025
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/25/7/28/n14562444.htm