Summary
China has expressed strong concern over Japan’s plan to deploy medium-range air-defense missiles on Yonaguni Island near Taiwan by 2030. Japan says the move is to strengthen defense amid rising tensions with China, while China sees it as a threat to regional peace.
Key Facts
- Japan plans to place Type 03 Chu-SAM surface-to-air missiles and troops on Yonaguni Island by fiscal year 2030.
- Yonaguni Island is about 70 miles from Taiwan's east coast and administered by Okinawa Prefecture.
- The missile system can track up to 100 flying targets and attack about a dozen at once, with a range of about 30 miles.
- Japan’s Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi supports stronger defenses on southwestern islands due to tensions with China, especially over Taiwan.
- China views Japan’s move as an offensive military step that threatens stability and accuses Japan’s government of shifting towards expansionism.
- Yonaguni’s mayor supports the missile deployment but warns against adding more forces on the island.
- Japan has doubled its defense spending and seeks to relax weapons export limits to boost its defense industry and cooperation with allies.
- Relations between Japan and China have worsened since Japan’s Prime Minister said that a Chinese blockade of Taiwan might require Japan and the U.S. to intervene.
