Japan to Deploy Missiles Near Taiwan by 2031, Signaling Harder Line Against China?
- account_circle Friska Putri Aryananta
- calendar_month Rabu, 25 Feb 2026 19:00 WIB
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Hasanah.id – Japan has set a clear deadline to station surface-to-air missiles on its westernmost island, a move that underscores Tokyo’s increasingly assertive defense posture amid rising friction with China over Taiwan.
Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said the missile unit will be operational on Yonaguni island by the fiscal year 2030 meaning deployment is expected no later than March 2031. It is the first time Japan has publicly attached a timeline to the plan first unveiled in 2022.
The remote island, located just 110 kilometers (68 miles) from Taiwan and visible from its shores on a clear day, is emerging as a frontline outpost in Japan’s evolving security strategy.
Why Yonaguni Matters in the Japan–China Standoff
China considers Taiwan part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to “reunify” with it. That unresolved status has become one of the most dangerous flashpoints in Asia.
Tokyo’s concern is straightforward: any attack on Taiwan a close partner of the United States — could rapidly escalate into a broader confrontation between Washington and Beijing. As a US ally, Japan could find itself directly involved.
Tensions intensified in November when Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested Japan would activate its self-defence forces if Taiwan were attacked. The remarks sent diplomatic ties with Beijing into their deepest chill in years.
China responded with a series of pressure tactics, including dispatching warships, restricting rare earth exports, limiting Chinese tourism to Japan, cancelling cultural events and even reclaiming its pandas.
- Penulis: Friska Putri Aryananta
