(Tokyo) Amidst heightened tensions between Japan and China over the Taiwan issue, Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi visited the military base on Yonaguni Island, near Taiwan, and indicated that the missile deployment plan on the island is progressing steadily.
After concluding his first visit to the Yonaguni military base on Sunday (November 23), Koizumi told the media, "Deploying missiles on the island helps reduce the possibility of our country being attacked by armed forces. The view that doing so will exacerbate regional tensions is incorrect."
According to Bloomberg, Yonaguni Island is only 110 kilometers east of Taiwan. Japan's plan to deploy medium-range surface-to-air missiles on the island is part of its overall military strategy to strengthen the southern island chain, reflecting Japan's concerns about China's growing military strength and a potential conflict in the Taiwan Strait.
Former Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani stated in January that Tokyo hoped to deploy Type 03 surface-to-air missiles on Yonaguni Island, but progress has been minimal so far. These truck-launched missiles can counter aerial threats within a 30-mile (48-kilometer) range.
Koizumi declined to comment on the "Taiwan crisis," but emphasized the need to deepen Japan-U.S. cooperation and strengthen deterrence. Koizumi, who took office as defense minister last month, said on Sunday that the Ministry of National Defense is still developing the plan, and details will be announced to the local government and people of Yonaguni Island once finalized.
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When asked by the media about the potential impact of a Taiwan crisis on Yonaguni Island, Koizumi declined to comment on hypothetical scenarios.
However, during a meeting with the mayor of Yonaguni Island that day, Koizumi emphasized that Japan must strengthen its deterrent capabilities by enhancing its own strength and deepening cooperation with the U.S. military. He stated, "Japan now faces the most severe and complex security environment since the end of World War II. To protect the peaceful lives of the Japanese people, including everyone on Yonaguni Island, we must strengthen the capabilities of the Self-Defense Forces."
Yonaguni Island is a popular tourist destination for diving enthusiasts and is equipped with surveillance radar stations that scan nearby waters and airspace. Furthermore, an electronic warfare unit capable of jamming enemy communications and guidance systems was deployed on the island in 2024.
Before visiting Yonaguni Island, Koizumi also inspected military bases on Ishigaki Island and Miyako Island. The Ishigaki Island base is equipped with anti-ship missiles, while Miyako Island serves as a hub for air surveillance and other military facilities, including ammunition depots. Japan and the United States also maintain important military bases on Okinawa Island further east. In recent weeks, the U.S. military conducted a training exercise simulating the transport of supplies from Okinawa to Yonaguni Island, aiming to establish forward operating bases that could be used in the event of a crisis in any region.
