{"id":13454,"date":"2026-02-25T14:50:55","date_gmt":"2026-02-25T14:50:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/?p=13454"},"modified":"2026-02-25T14:50:55","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T14:50:55","slug":"japan-to-install-missiles-near-taiwan-are-china-tensions-set-to-spike-military-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/?p=13454","title":{"rendered":"Japan to install missiles near Taiwan: Are China tensions set to spike? | Military News"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div aria-live=\"polite\" aria-atomic=\"true\">\n<p data-start=\"252\" data-end=\"453\">Japan\u2019s plans to deploy missiles on its westernmost island, close to Taiwan, within five years will further add to the growing tensions with China, analysts say.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"252\" data-end=\"453\">Japanese defence minister Shinjiro Koizumi said the surface-to-air systems \u2013 designed to intercept aircraft and ballistic missiles \u2013 will be deployed to Yonaguni island, located about 110km (68 miles) east of Taiwan, which is claimed by China as its sovereign territory, by March 2031.<\/p>\n<section class=\"more-on\">\n<h2 class=\"more-on__heading\">Recommended Stories<!-- --> <\/h2>\n<p><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">list of 3 items<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">end of list<\/span><\/section>\n<p data-start=\"252\" data-end=\"453\">\u201cIt depends on the progress of preparing facilities, but we are planning for fiscal 2030,\u201d Koizumi told reporters on Tuesday, providing the clearest timetable so far.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"792\" data-end=\"864\">Analysts say the move signals a deliberate hardening of Japan\u2019s posture.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"866\" data-end=\"1052\">Japan\u2019s decision represents a \u201ccalculated escalation that will increase regional tensions,\u201d said Einar Tangen, senior fellow on geopolitics at the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI).<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1054\" data-end=\"1233\">\u201cThese actions are not occurring in a vacuum,\u201d Tangen told Al Jazeera. \u201c[The] actions are timed to strengthen Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi\u2019s hand ahead of a visit to Washington, scheduled for March 19, 2026.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"why-yonaguni-matters\" data-start=\"1054\" data-end=\"1233\">Why Yonaguni matters<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"1266\" data-end=\"1386\">Yonaguni sits at the southwestern edge of Japan\u2019s territory, close enough to Taiwan to see its coastline on a clear day.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1388\" data-end=\"1658\">The island forms part of the Ryukyu chain, a string of more than 55 islands stretching towards Japan\u2019s main islands. Over recent years, Tokyo has expanded military infrastructure across the archipelago, installing radar systems, ammunition depots and missile batteries.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1660\" data-end=\"1819\">While Japan first announced plans in 2022 to enhance Yonaguni\u2019s defences, this marks the first time officials have committed to a specific deployment deadline.<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"\" aria-label=\"Locator map\" id=\"datawrapper-chart-bB7qa\" src=\"https:\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/bB7qa\/2\/\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" style=\"width:0;min-width:100% !important;border:none\" height=\"513\" data-external=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"where-does-taiwan-fit-into-this\">Where does Taiwan fit into this?<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"1852\" data-end=\"2070\">Relations between Tokyo and Beijing have remained strained since Takaichi publicly raised the possibility of military involvement in a Taiwan contingency during parliamentary remarks last November.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2072\" data-end=\"2293\">Her comments marked a noticeable departure from Japan\u2019s longstanding ambiguity over Taiwan. They also came shortly after the 80th anniversary of the end of Japan\u2019s colonial rule over Taiwan, adding historical sensitivity for Beijing.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2295\" data-end=\"2387\">Beijing, which considers Taiwan part of its territory, condemned the remarks as provocative.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2389\" data-end=\"2637\">\u201cJapan must fully repent for its war crimes, immediately stop its wrong and provocative statements and moves that interfere in China\u2019s internal affairs, and stop playing with fire on the Taiwan question,\u201d China\u2019s Foreign Ministry said in <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/MFA_China\/status\/1988968844636127668\">response.<\/a><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2639\" data-end=\"2757\">China subsequently discouraged travel to Japan. Chinese visitors contribute roughly $11bn annually to Japan\u2019s economy.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2759\" data-end=\"3002\">Beijing has also increased military and economic pressure, dispatching naval vessels near Japanese waters, tightening controls on rare earth exports and scaling back cultural exchanges, including withdrawing giant pandas from Tokyo\u2019s Ueno Zoo, a symbol for China of friendship between the two sides. China dominates the production of rare earths used in the manufacturing of electric cars, phones and other high-tech devices.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4337744\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4337744\" style=\"width:770px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-arc-image-770 wp-image-4337744\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/000_94486CR-1772021383.jpg?w=770&amp;resize=770%2C505&amp;quality=80\" alt=\"Panda lovers wave goodbye to a truck believed to be carrying the twin pandas upon a departure from Ueno Zoo in Tokyo on January 27, 2026, heading towards their return to China. (Photo by Kazuhiro NOGI \/ AFP)\" fetchpriority=\"low\"\/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4337744\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Panda lovers wave goodbye to a truck believed to be carrying the twin pandas upon their departure from Ueno Zoo in Tokyo on January 27, 2026, heading towards their return to China [Kazuhiro Nogi\/AFP]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 id=\"what-s-different-now\">What\u2019s different now?<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"3035\" data-end=\"3108\">Some analysts view the missile deployment as part of a longer trajectory.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3110\" data-end=\"3304\">\u201cThis is the continuation of a process under way since at least [late Japanese Prime Minister] Shinzo Abe\u2019s 2014 reinterpretation of collective self-defence,\u201d said Arnaud Bertrand, a geopolitical analyst specialising in China.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3306\" data-end=\"3455\">Abe\u2019s government controversially reinterpreted Japan\u2019s pacifist constitution to allow limited collective self-defence, expanding the role of the Self-Defense Forces.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3457\" data-end=\"3634\">\u201cEach step was presented as modest and defensive: coastal surveillance on Yonaguni in 2016, missiles on Ishigaki in 2023, electronic warfare units, and now this,\u201d Bertrand said.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3636\" data-end=\"3768\">However, he argued that Takaichi has gone further by explicitly linking Japan\u2019s military preparations to a possible Taiwan conflict.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3770\" data-end=\"4082\">\u201cThat\u2019s what makes this moment significant: the political declaration that Japan sees itself as a party to any potential Taiwan conflict, which from China\u2019s standpoint \u2013 and in terms of international law \u2013 is very provocative, given that Taiwan is China\u2019s sovereign territory that used to be colonised by Japan.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"4084\" data-end=\"4284\">Japan\u2019s defence priorities have also shifted. Whereas Tokyo once focused heavily on threats from Russia in the north, it now concentrates on countering Chinese military activity in the East China Sea.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"why-is-japan-doing-this-now\">Why is Japan doing this now?<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"4316\" data-end=\"4544\">Beijing has not yet formally responded to Koizumi\u2019s latest statement. When the minister visited Yonaguni in November, Chinese officials accused Japan of attempting to \u201ccreate regional tension and provoke military confrontation\u201d.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"4546\" data-end=\"4643\">Shortly afterwards, Chinese drones approached the area, prompting Japan to scramble fighter jets.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"4645\" data-end=\"4982\">\u201cAs for the timing, Japan is making this announcement now because the window for military build-up without major consequences is perceived to be closing \u2013 China\u2019s capabilities are growing rapidly, and there\u2019s certainly a sense in Tokyo that if it doesn\u2019t establish these forward positions now, it may not be able to later,\u201d Bertrand said.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"4984\" data-end=\"5183\">The United States has also pushed allies to increase defence spending and assume a greater share of regional security responsibilities, particularly under President Donald Trump\u2019s administration.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"5185\" data-end=\"5316\">Domestically, Takaichi strengthened her position after her party secured a commanding majority in February\u2019s parliamentary elections.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"5318\" data-end=\"5551\">\u201cThe missile deployment and tough stance on China will resonate with her right-wing base and reinforce an aggressive defence posture, while moving the country away from its post-war pacifist constitution and principles,\u201d Tangen said.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"5553\" data-end=\"5788\">\u201cFrom China\u2019s perspective, the sequence of events is clear: Japan, under a newly emboldened Prime Minister Takaichi, is aggressively militarising and interfering in the Taiwan question to curry favour with the United States,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"how-is-china-likely-to-react\">How is China likely to react?<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"5826\" data-end=\"5975\">China has already taken economic steps. It recently restricted exports to 40 Japanese entities that it said contribute to Japan\u2019s \u201cremilitarisation\u201d.\u00a0The Commerce Ministry placed 20 firms on an export control list and added another 20 to a watchlist.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"6079\" data-end=\"6199\">Japan\u2019s Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Sato Kei described the move as \u201cdeplorable\u201d and said it would \u201cnot be tolerated\u201d.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"6201\" data-end=\"6412\">\u201cIf further provocations occur, China will extend sanctions to the civilian side, which could literally stop Japanese automobile production. Possibly one of the reasons for the 2031 deployment date,\u201d Tangen said.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"6414\" data-end=\"6472\">Bertrand stressed the depth of China\u2019s focus on Taiwan.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"6474\" data-end=\"6578\">\u201cTaiwan isn\u2019t just important to China \u2013 it is what Chinese officials call the \u2018core of core interests\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"6580\" data-end=\"6695\">\u201cIt\u2019s the one issue on which there is genuine consensus across Chinese society, government and military,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"6697\" data-end=\"7025\">Economic interdependence also complicates matters.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"6697\" data-end=\"7025\">China has been Japan\u2019s largest trading partner since 2005. Bilateral trade reached $322bn in 2024, and China accounts for roughly one-fifth of Japan\u2019s total exports and imports. Japan runs a substantial trade deficit with China, importing about $43bn more annually than it exports.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"7027\" data-end=\"7282\">\u201cJapan cannot simultaneously militarise against China and maintain the economic relationship that its prosperity depends on. At some point, Tokyo will have to choose, and Beijing is trying to make that choice become as obvious as possible,\u201d Bertrand said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Japan\u2019s plans to deploy missiles on its westernmost island, close to Taiwan, within five years will further add to the growing tensions with China, analysts say. Japanese defence minister Shinjiro Koizumi said the surface-to-air systems \u2013 designed to intercept aircraft and ballistic missiles \u2013 will be deployed to Yonaguni island, located about 110km (68 miles) [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13455,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13454","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-asia-pacific"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13454","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=13454"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13454\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/13455"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=13454"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=13454"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inernews.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=13454"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}