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Japan to deploy missiles on island near Taiwan

2026-02-25 07:35:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Japan plans to deploy surface-to-air missiles on its remote western island near Taiwan by March 2031, its defense minister said, as regional tensions rise. It is the first time Japan has set a timeline for deploying missiles on Yonaguni Island since it was announced in 2022.

China claims self-ruled Taiwan as its own and has not ruled out the use of force to “reunify” it with it. Yonaguni is visible from the coast of Taiwan on a clear day, located just 110 km (68 miles) away.

Tensions between Tokyo and Beijing have been high since November, when Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi appeared to suggest that Japan would activate its self-defense force in the event of an attack on Taiwan.

There has long been concern that any attack on Taiwan, which considers the US an ally, could result in a direct military conflict between Washington and Beijing, which would then expand to include other US allies in the region, such as Japan.

Takaichi's comments in parliament sent ties with China to their lowest point in years, and Beijing has ratcheted up the pressure in a wide range of ways, sending warships, blocking exports of rare metals, curbing Chinese tourism, canceling concerts and even repatriating its pandas.

Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi announced the timeline for the missiles on Tuesday, a day after China imposed export restrictions on 20 Japanese companies and entities, citing national security concerns.

Koizumi said the Yonaguni unit will be equipped with medium-range surface-to-air missiles capable of intercepting incoming aircraft and missiles.

With a range of about 50 km and 360-degree capability, the Japanese-made missile system can track up to 100 targets simultaneously and engage up to 12 of them.

China has yet to respond to Koizumi's announcement. But when Koizumi visited Yonaguni in November, Beijing said Japan was taking steps to create regional tension and provoke military confrontation.

Within days, China flew drones near the island to express its anger, prompting Japan to scramble fighter jets in response.

The latest developments come after Takaichi secured a landslide victory in parliamentary elections earlier this month. The victory gave Takaichi the political space to redouble efforts to boost Japan's defense capabilities./CNA, translated by BBC