Japan’s Defense Minister Restates Surface-to-Air Missile Plan on Island Near Taiwan
- On Nov 23, Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said preparations for a medium-range surface-to-air missile deployment at Camp Yonaguni are progressing steadily and will reduce attack risks.
- Tokyo says the deployments respond to Beijing's growing assertiveness and seek to improve deterrence and Japan-U.S. alliance readiness through joint training amid soured ties after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks.
- Yonaguni, about 110 kilometers from Taiwan, hosts a Japan Ground Self-Defense Force base and will deploy upgraded Type 03 mid-range surface-to-air missiles this month, amid increased US Marine Corps activities.
- Beijing on Nov 24 said Japan's missile deployment is a deliberate attempt to 'create regional tension and provoke military confrontation' and warned it is 'extremely dangerous', imposing bans and travel warnings.
- Analysts warn the island could be both a forward asset and an exposed liability, vulnerable to drone swarms, missile salvos and submarine threats during a conflict.
46 Articles
46 Articles
It is only 110 kilometers from Yonaguni to the coast of Taiwan. On the small Japanese island there is a military base and soon also rockets. In the diplomatic dispute between China and Japan it is the focus.
China: Japan's intention to deploy offensive weapons near China's Taiwan region requires high vigilance from international community
Japan's intention to deploy offensive weapons near China's Taiwan region requires high vigilance from the international community, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Monday.
China criticises Japan's plan to deploy missiles on island near Taiwan
China called Japan's plan to deploy missiles on an island near Taiwan a deliberate attempt to "create regional tension and provoke military confrontation" on Monday, as a diplomatic dispute simmers between the two nations.
Japan is implementing plans for a missile unit on the Japanese island of Yonaguni near Taiwan, which threatens its national security.
China believes that "the implementation of offensive weapons by Japan in the islands of the South-West neighbours of Taiwan is deliberately aimed at creating regional tensions and triggering a military confrontation".
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- 36% of the sources lean Left, 36% of the sources are Center
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