Japan plans to deploy missile defense system near Taiwan

Japan Plans to Deploy Missiles on Yonaguni Island by 2031, Analysts Say

Japan’s Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi has announced plans to deploy surface-to-air systems on its westernmost island, Yonaguni, located approximately 110km east of Taiwan. The deployment is expected to be completed by March 2031.

According to Koizumi, the facilities necessary for the deployment will be prepared in fiscal year 2030. Analysts say this move signals a deliberate hardening of Japan’s military posture.

Einar Tangen, senior fellow on geopolitics at the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI), stated that the actions are not occurring in a vacuum and are timed to strengthen Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s hand ahead of her visit to Washington in 2026.

Yonaguni is part of the Ryukyu chain, which includes over 55 islands stretching towards Japan’s main islands. The island’s location allows for clear visibility of Taiwan’s coastline on a clear day.

Japan has expanded its military infrastructure across the archipelago in recent years, including radar systems, ammunition depots, and missile batteries. This marks the first time officials have committed to a specific deployment deadline.

Relations between Japan and China have remained strained since Takaichi publicly raised the possibility of military involvement in a Taiwan contingency during parliamentary remarks last November. Beijing has condemned these comments as provocative and has taken measures to discourage travel to Japan.

China’s Foreign Ministry stated that Japan must “fully repent for its war crimes” and stop making statements that interfere with China’s internal affairs. As a result, Beijing has increased military and economic pressure on Japan, including dispatching naval vessels near Japanese waters and scaling back cultural exchanges.

The deployment of missiles on Yonaguni Island is part of a longer trajectory that began under the previous government, led by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2014. Abe’s government reinterpreted Japan’s pacifist constitution to allow limited collective self-defence, expanding the role of the Self-Defense Forces.

Source: Al Jazeera