Government sources state that the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) is considering deploying long-range missiles on an island to enhance counterattack capabilities against China and North Korea.
The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force is reportedly considering positioning long-range missiles on the island of Kyushu to strengthen its “counterattack capabilities” against China and North Korea, according to Kyodo News.
Kyushu faces the East China Sea to the west and the Korean Peninsula to the northwest. Sources indicated that the Japanese government wants to avoid deploying missiles in Okinawa, as it is too close to China and Taiwan.
The long-range missiles to be used would be Type 12, with a range of 1,000 km. The military deployment is expected to begin by March 2026.
The deployment of missiles on the island of Kyushu is seen as a response to North Korea’s ballistic missile threats and China’s increasing military activity in the East China Sea.
The United States has urged Japan to increase its military spending to 3% of the country’s GDP. President Donald Trump also made this request to NATO allies and Taiwan.
Robert Dujarric, co-director of the Institute of Contemporary Asian Studies at Temple University in Tokyo, told The Guardian that this request indicates the U.S.-Japan alliance is not as strong.
“Even if China attacked Japan, there is no guarantee that the U.S., under Trump’s administration, would do anything. This is a major issue,” Dujarric said.
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