[@Cyclone] The Ryukyu Empire tells them to attack their enemies only, pirates aren't always the best at listening however. But there have been efforts to make more pirates like the Navy's [i]Black Wings ofCold[/i], a specialized raiding/privateering fleet. Again, Pirate Kings aren't the most understanding of folk... 
No matter, they will see the Empire's reason wether by pen and paper or a spear in their eye.

[@OneEyedChurro] Like Cyclone's Terus Domain, the Empire sees the A-A as backwards and failing economically. But its because that they also see it as a prime investment as they could sell their advanced tech and send them advisors to get them up to technological speed, making them money. And then as a potential market for trade and sees their vast food stores as a potential solution to the seasonal food shortages the Empire often suffers and a stable place to get the ore they need from to help them get their army in more metal than stone and leather. So the Empire seems mean to them on paper, but sees them much higher in practice.