Japan strengthens military presence along southern coast amid US security concerns

Japan Deploys Long-Range Missiles in Kyushu Amid Shift in Defence Strategy

A significant development in Japan’s defence strategy has taken place on its southern island of Kyushu, where long-range missiles have been deployed to Kumamoto Prefecture. This move reflects a change in the country’s national security priorities, with China now ranking as Japan’s top threat above North Korea and Russia.

In late March, Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi stated that Japan faces its most severe and complex security environment since 1945. The government has allocated a substantial portion of its growing defence budget to strengthen deterrence and responsiveness in this region.

The “southern shield” strategy focuses on the Nansei or Ryukyu Islands, which form a natural barrier dividing the East China Sea from the Philippine Sea. This area is critical to the United States-led “First Island Chain” maritime defence strategy, aimed at keeping Chinese forces out of the Pacific.

Japan’s growing defence budget has been allocated towards this build-up, with much of it focused on acquiring counterstrike capability and creating “anti-access or area-denial layers along the First Island Chain.” This shift in policy aims to complicate potential Chinese operations near Taiwan or in the East China Sea.

The Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) have been deployed with a range of weapons platforms, electronic warfare assets, and air capabilities in southern Japan and its southwest outlying islands. The JSDF’s role has evolved significantly since its establishment in 1947, from humanitarian and disaster relief to a more prominent military presence.

The deployment of long-range missiles in Kyushu marks a significant shift in Japan’s defence strategy, with the country prioritizing deterrence and responsiveness in this region.

Source: Al Jazeera