This was immediately after Ryukyu Domain was abolished and Okinawa Prefecture had been established (the Ryukyu Annexation) and Ryukyu's sovereignty had become an issue between the two countries.
琉球藩を廃止し沖縄県を設置した（沖縄県の歴史琉球処分）直後であり、琉球の帰属問題が両国間の懸案となっていた。