Japan's defense minister announced plans Tuesday to deploy surface-to-air missiles on Yonaguni island near Taiwan by March 2031. The remote outpost sits 110km east of Taiwan and already hosts a military base. This step comes as Japan strengthens its defenses amid growing friction with China over the self-governing island. Tensions have spiked lately. China claims Taiwan as its own. Beijing hasn't ruled out force to take control.
Key Takeaways
- Japan targets fiscal 2030 for missile deployment on Yonaguni, its westernmost inhabited island.
- The Type-03 Chu-SAM system will guard against aircraft and ballistic missiles.
- Local residents get a briefing next week; about 100 troops may join the current 230 on base.
- Move follows years of China military drills near Taiwan and disputes in nearby seas.
Background
Yonaguni sits at Japan's far southwest edge. It's tiny. Just over 1,600 people live there. Fishermen spot Taiwan on clear days. The island hosts Camp Yonaguni, a Japan Ground Self-Defense Force base opened in 2016. That base started small. Now it's growing.
Japan's leaders worry about the area. China runs frequent military exercises around Taiwan. Planes buzz close. Ships prowl the waters. Japan sees this as a threat to its own security. The southwestern islands form a chain. They face the East China Sea. Disputes simmer over the Senkaku Islands, which China calls Diaoyu.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi spoke bluntly last November. She said Japan might step in if China attacks Taiwan. That rattled Beijing. China hit back hard. It warned citizens away from Japan trips. Tourism dropped. That's a big hit. Visitors from the mainland fuel Japan's economy.
And tensions keep building. China just slapped export curbs on Japanese firms. Beijing says these companies aid Japan's military buildup. Items involved have civilian and military uses. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries subsidiaries got named. Japan's space agency too. Tokyo calls it unacceptable. Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Kei Sato labeled the curbs intolerable.
Japan's shifting gears. Long pacifist after World War II. Now it's buying counterstrike weapons. Rules on selling arms abroad eased up. Last December, Tokyo approved its biggest defense budget ever. Nine trillion yen. That's about $58 billion. Funds buy missiles, ships, planes.
"Strengthening our defence capabilities is essential to protect the lives and peaceful livelihoods of our citizens as we face the most severe and complex security environment since the end of World War II." – Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi
China's top diplomat Wang Yi fired back at the Munich Security Conference this month. He accused Japan of reviving militarism. Old wounds from history run deep. But Japan insists it's just defending itself.
Key Details
Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi dropped the timeline Tuesday. Fiscal 2030 means April 2030 to March 2031. First time Japan's nailed down a date. The plan dates to 2022. Back then, the ministry said it'd ramp up air defenses on Yonaguni.
Missile Specs and Setup
Type-03 medium-range surface-to-air missiles head there. Known as Chu-SAM. They pack advanced radar. AESA type. Tracks 100 targets at once. Hits 12 simultaneously. Active radar homing guides them home. Inertial systems and mid-flight links help too.
Facilities come first. Studies underway for the eastern side of Camp Yonaguni. Land purchase details scarce. Okinawa Defense Bureau won't say when it'll wrap. Koizumi visited in November. He saw the base firsthand.
About 100 personnel likely. Base has 230 now. Yonaguni Town Mayor Tsueno Uechi got word. Ministry briefs residents Monday at 6:30 p.m. local time. Koizumi says it'll cut risks of attacks on Japan.
Japan's done this before nearby. Type-03 on Ishigaki Island. Type-12 anti-ship missiles too. Miyako Island has systems. Straits there matter. Miyako Strait. Bashi Channel. China eyes them as key routes.
But schedules can slip. Koizumi noted that. Depends on construction pace.
Relations with China sour further. Export bans sting. Japan urges reversal. Beijing says it's lawful. Targets remilitarization, they claim. Honest firms have no fear, per their commerce ministry.
Koizumi's no stranger to the southwest. He pushes readiness. Prime Minister Takaichi echoes that. China presses status quo changes by force, she says. East China Sea. South China Sea. All hot spots.
What This Means
The Yonaguni island move plugs a gap. Japan's southwest feels exposed. Missiles there watch skies over Taiwan Strait. They deter flyovers. Block missile runs. China drills often. Blockade rehearsals last December. Missile firings included.
Beijing won't like it. Already fuming over Takaichi's words. Tourism dip hurts Japan. More economic jabs possible. Export curbs signal that. Dual-use goods blocked to 20 entities.
For locals, change looms. More troops. Noise from drills. Base expansion. Mayor Uechi informed early. Public meeting helps. But some worry. Island life simple. Military presence grows.
Regionally, it's a signal. Japan commits to the chain. First island chain, experts call it. From Japan to Philippines. Blocks China paths. Taiwan central. U.S. watches close. Allies train together. Japan-U.S. pact strong.
Hypersonic threats loom. Type-03 handles planes, cruise missiles well. Upgrades needed for faster ones. Testing ahead.
Broader shifts. Japan's defense record high. Counterstrike buys. Like Tomahawks. Ships too. Allies applaud. China cries foul.
Yonaguni fits pattern. Ishigaki, Miyako armed. Now here. 110km from Taiwan. Visible neighbor.
Residents brief soon. Prep work starts. Missiles by 2031. Tensions simmer. Japan digs in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Yonaguni island?
It's Japan's westernmost inhabited island, about 110km east of Taiwan and 1,900km southwest of Tokyo. Around 1,600 people live there.
What missiles are going there?
Type-03 Chu-SAM surface-to-air missiles. They target aircraft and ballistic missiles with advanced radar tracking up to 100 targets.
Why now for Japan?
Rising China activity near Taiwan and seas. PM Takaichi says threats demand stronger defenses to protect citizens.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Yonaguni island?
It’s Japan’s westernmost inhabited island, about 110km east of Taiwan and 1,900km southwest of Tokyo. Around 1,600 people live there.
What missiles are going there?
Type-03 Chu-SAM surface-to-air missiles. They target aircraft and ballistic missiles with advanced radar tracking up to 100 targets.
Why now for Japan?
Rising China activity near Taiwan and seas. PM Takaichi says threats demand stronger defenses to protect citizens.
