Overseas territories of Chisei

The Overseas territories of Chisei (: 家の海外領土 Chisei no Kaigai Ryōdo, : Cise'i un oya-mosir-ya) are territories administered by Chisei that are beyond the borders of the five states of the Chiseian federation. There are nine(?) such territories, which are grouped together as five Overseas Commanderies (海外郡 Kaigai Gun, Oya-mosir-un-kun), and are governed directly at the federal level as part of Chisei. Most of the territories are remnants of the Chiseian empire.

All inhabitants of overseas territories are allowed to move freely within Chisei, and have the right to vote in all Chiseian elections, much as any Chiseian subject. Three of the Commanderies elect their own representatives to the Heavenly Assembly, while the others are much more sparsely populated and thus vote as part of the Chiseian overseas constituencies. Internally, the Commanderies vary in their level of autonomy. The Commandery of Kyōtsu is the only one to have a true legislature - the Kyōtsu Assembly - and an independent legal system.

The Minister of Commanderies is the member of the Great Council of State delegated with managing the issues and affairs of the Overseas Commanderies.

History
The system of territories and commanderies was first created in 1956, replacing the prior Kaidō (海道 'maritime circuit') system that had been developed under the Conciliar government. Intended as a way to counter the growing desire of Chiseian colonies in southern Escar and the Varunan for self-determination (the Fukunaga strategy), the Commandery reforms proved unable to prevent the secession of key island territories such as Masuka. From the 1970s onwards, the focus of colonial policy thus shifted towards the further expansion of suffrage and other legal rights to colonial residents. This culminated in the 1978 Overseas Government Act, which created new constituencies for the larger Commanderies and established the first of the Chiseian overseas constituencies, to provide representation for Varunan and Crosswind islanders.

Kyōtsu islands
The Kyōtsu commandery covers 4 major islands and some 112 minor ones. It is the largest of the Commanderies, with a population of 989,000, and has two sizeable cities, Shin Minato and Tano. Located in the Crosswind Sea, between Yeongseon and Sahil, the Kyōtsu islands are a popular tourist destination and also see significant commericial maritime traffic. Politically, the Kyōtsu islands enjoy a significant degree of autonomy, with their own parliament and limited legal sovereignty in domestic matters. They also elect two of their own representatives to the Heavenly Assembly.

Two military bases exist in the Commandery: RAF Mikurajima, which also hosts a contingent from the Yamatai Air Defence Force, and RAF Magojima.

Kioka islands
The Kioka islands are the northernmost territorial extent of Chisei. They have a small seasonal population of under 2,000 fishermen and 1,000 armed forces personnel at RAF Kioka. There is also an observatory of the Royal Astronomical Society. Just two islands, Kita Kiokashima and Minami Kiokashima, make up the Commandery, though there are a number of uninhabited rocks in the vicinity.

Higashimura islands
Historically host to a small but bustling port town, the Higashimura islands today have a population of only 28,000, not counting transient military servicemen and marine researchers, with the majority of the pre-Endwar population having either been forcefully relocated during Yamataian occupation or voluntarily emigrating after the war. The islands nonetheless retain their importance as a strategic mid-way point between Valeya and Escar, and are a common stop-off point for navy vessels. Recent governors have tried to rejuvenate the Commandery's economy by encouraging nature tourism and immigration.

Hisashi islands
The Hisashi islands are the second most populous of the overseas commanderies, with 687,000 residents. Originally known as Simjangdo (심장도), they were first discovered and colonised by Yeongseon, and remained continuously under Yeongseonin rule until they were sold to Chisei in 1830. To this day there is a large Yeongseonin presence on the islands, though much of it consists of more recent immigrants from nearby Gyunghwa. The Commandery elects one representative to the Heavenly Assembly, and is governed domestically by the Hisashi Commandery Council, a partially-elected partially-appointed body.

Owing to its proximity to XXX, a territory of Gran Altiplano, the Commandery sees a large amount of military activity. There is a naval base at the main port city of Haiden, two airbases, and a standing garrison of Chiseian Royal Army and EVA troops, which also doubles as a joint-training base for HECO and other allied forces.

Takanashi islands
The Takanashi commandery is the southernmost Chiseian territory. It has a population of 134,100 and is largely rural beyond the eponymous capital of Takanashi. The islands are best known for Takanashi shrine, built in 1706 by the Shirakawan explorer who discovered the islands, and it's annual chicken-themed festival. The Commandery elects one representative to the Heavenly Assembly.

There is a small airbase on the island of Kita Kirishima.