INTERNATIONAL SECURITY DYNAMICS IN THE RYUKYU ISLANDS: THE UNITED STATES-CHINA BALANCE OF POWER

Authors

  • Teofilus Setia Wahyudi Departemen Ilmu Hubungan Internasional, Universitas Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33541/japs.v10i1.7892

Keywords:

Amerika Serikat, Dinamika Keamanan, Kepulauan Ryukyu, Perimbangan kekuasaan, Tiongkok

Abstract

Kawasan Kepulauan Ryukyu merupakan sebuah wilayah dari Kerajaan Ryukyu yang merupakan mitra diplomatik bangsa Tiongkok dan bangsa Jepang sekaligus beserta dengan negaranya masing-masing. Posisi kawasan ini secara geopolitik berhubungan dengan kontestasi kekuatan antara Amerika Serikat dan Tiongkok. Oleh karena itu, dengan menggunakan analisis teori perimbangan kekuatan dengan berfokus pada peran identitas atau identifikasi, berdasarkan perspektif historisis dari kawasan ini, beserta dengan metode penelitian kualitatif, maka peneliti menemukan bahwa inti dari konflik antara dua negara besar ini, Tiongkok dan Amerika Serikat, terletak pada perbedaan interpretasi resolusi konflik pasca Perang Dunia II—termasuk klausul yang memengaruhi status teritorial Kepulauan Ryukyu. Oleh karena itu, Kepulauan Ryukyu dan penduduk Ryukyu merupakan garis depan pertemuan antara takdir atau konsekuensi sejarah dengan perebutan kekuasaan antara dua kekuatan besar. Ketidakpercayaan dan kecurigaan timbal balik antara Amerika Serikat dan Tiongkok harus menjadi fokus utama, dan saya merekomendasikan untuk kembali menyoroti pentingnya geopolitik Kepulauan Ryukyu sebagai masa depan rekonsiliasi.

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Published

2026-07-02

How to Cite

Setia Wahyudi, T. (2026). INTERNATIONAL SECURITY DYNAMICS IN THE RYUKYU ISLANDS: THE UNITED STATES-CHINA BALANCE OF POWER. Jurnal Asia Pacific Studies, 10(1), 357–370. https://doi.org/10.33541/japs.v10i1.7892

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