Japan stations advanced missiles close to Chinese border

Japan's defence minister announced on Tuesday the deployment of long-range missiles in a southwest region near China, a move made at a time when relations between the two nations are at their lowest point in recent years.

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This deployment has taken place in Kumamoto, located in the southern region of Kyushu, as Japan seeks to bolster its military capabilities in response to China's increased naval activity in the East China Sea.

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According to Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, the "standoff defense capabilities" provided by these missiles will enable Japan to counter the threat of invading forces while ensuring the safety of its personnel.

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Koizumi emphasized that this initiative is crucial for strengthening Japan's deterrence and response capabilities, highlighting its importance for the country's defence strategy.

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The surface-to-ship guided missile system has a range of approximately 1,000 kilometres, or 620 miles, which puts parts of the Chinese mainland within reach, including Shanghai, located about 900 kilometres from Kumamoto.

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In addition to the missile deployment in Kumamoto, Koizumi also announced the deployment of a "hyper velocity gliding projectile" in Shizuoka, a coastal area closer to Tokyo that faces the Pacific, designed to defend remote islands from enemy forces.

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Japan has traditionally adhered to a policy of using its military solely for self-defence, but in recent years, it has been steadily expanding its defence capacity in response to increased military activities by regional neighbours, including China, Russia, and North Korea.

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In 2022, Japan approved a plan to deploy missiles with counter-attack capabilities, marking a significant development in its defence strategy.

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A defence white paper issued last year noted that relying solely on ballistic missile defence would become increasingly difficult in addressing the threat posed by missiles with advanced technologies.

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China's military expansion and involvement in territorial disputes with other countries in the region, including Japan over the Senkaku Islands, also known as the Diaoyu in China, have contributed to heightened tensions in the area.

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Japan's relations with Beijing have deteriorated in recent months, particularly after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested in November that Tokyo could intervene militarily in the event of an attack on self-ruled Taiwan, which China claims as its territory.

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Critics argue that Japan's decision to deploy missiles could make the area a potential target for enemy attacks, raising concerns about the move's implications for regional security.

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Earlier this month, local media reported that Japan's ground force delivered a launcher for the missiles to Kumamoto without warning local communities, prompting dozens of opponents to stage a protest in front of a local military base.