ASIA
Japan announces missile deployment and deepens aggression against China
Beijing has repudiated what it called a Japanese attempt to increase the war potential around Taiwan
The Japanese government announced on Sunday that it will install a medium-range surface-to-air missile system on the island of Yonaguni, just 110 kilometers off the coast of Taiwan. The measure, announced after episodes of aerial and military provocation by Japan, was denounced by China as a dangerous and deliberate escalation of tension in the region, deepening the biggest diplomatic conflict between the two countries in years.
Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said that preparations were “steadily advancing”, while visiting the base located in Japan’s far southwest, a strategic position facing the Chinese coast. The decision comes a few days after Japan sent fighter jets to accompany a Chinese drone en route between Taiwan and Yonaguni.
In response, Beijing repudiated what it described as a Japanese attempt to increase its war potential around Taiwan, a Chinese territory occupied by imperialism. For the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Tokyo is advancing a militaristic policy in line with the US offensive in the Pacific.
“Sending offensive weapons to the islands near Taiwan is a deliberate action that fuels regional tensions and provokes military confrontation. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s statements on the Taiwan issue further aggravate this situation and should raise alarm bells in Asia and around the world,” said spokeswoman Mao Ning.
The conflict escalated after Premier Sanae Takaichi declared that a Chinese attack on Taiwan would constitute a “threat to Japan’s survival”, justifying military intervention. The position provides a legal basis for external use of the Self-Defense Forces, something unheard of since the post-war era, and represents a significant shift in Japanese military policy.
Beijing demanded an immediate retraction. The Japanese government refused. Since then, the crisis has escalated at a rapid pace: public warnings, cancellation of multilateral meetings, trade restrictions, suspension of flights and political tensions involving diplomats and the military. In various communiqués, Chinese authorities have pointed out that Japan is once again acting militarily in a sensitive area of Chinese territory.
In November, the Chinese Defense Ministry raised the tone:
“If Tokyo dares to cross the line and intervene, it will pay a painful price. The Tahiti issue is China’s internal affair,” said spokesman Jiang Bin.
At the same time, Beijing has adopted measures that affect trade, tourism and cultural exchange with Japan. Chinese distributors have suspended Japanese films and airlines have started offering travel refunds. Imports of Japanese seafood have been virtually blocked, and negotiations on beef have been interrupted.
Even in the face of Chinese rejection, Japan decided to intensify military exercises and consolidate its armed presence near the Chinese coast, in line with its political and strategic alignment with Washington. The announcement of the missiles in Yonaguni marks a new level in Japan’s offensive in the region.
