By Our Correspondent
National News – Japan has deployed long-range missiles in its southwestern region near China, a move announced on Tuesday by Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi as tensions between the two Asian powers remain strained.
The missiles were installed in Kumamoto on the island of Kyushu as Tokyo strengthens its military deterrence amid increased Chinese naval activity in the East China Sea.
According to Koizumi, the deployment forms part of Japan’s strategy to improve its “standoff defence capabilities,” allowing the country to counter potential enemy invasions while keeping military personnel safe.
The newly installed surface-to-ship missile system reportedly has a range of about 1,000 kilometres, meaning it can reach parts of mainland China, including areas close to Shanghai, which lies roughly 900 kilometres from Kumamoto.
Japanese authorities also revealed that a “hyper velocity gliding projectile,” designed to protect remote islands from hostile forces, has been deployed in Shizuoka, a coastal region facing the Pacific Ocean.
For decades, Japan has maintained a defence-only military policy under its pacifist constitution.
However, the country has gradually expanded its military capabilities in response to growing security concerns involving China, Russia, and North Korea.
In 2022, Tokyo approved plans to deploy missiles with counterattack capability, marking a major shift in its defence posture.
A defence white paper released last year warned that relying solely on ballistic missile defence may no longer be sufficient due to the development of advanced missile technologies by rival states.
The move comes amid ongoing territorial disputes between Japan and China over the Senkaku Islands—known as the Diaoyu Islands in China.
Relations have further deteriorated after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested that Tokyo could intervene militarily if Taiwan were attacked.
China considers Taiwan part of its territory and has repeatedly warned against foreign military involvement.
However, critics within Japan have raised concerns that the missile deployment could make surrounding communities potential targets in the event of conflict.
Local media reported that missile launchers were delivered to Kumamoto earlier this month without prior notice to residents, sparking protests by dozens of demonstrators outside a nearby military base.
