China strongly criticized Japan on Monday for moving forward with plans to deploy new missile systems on Yonaguni Island, a remote Japanese island located just 110 kilometers from Taiwan. The development marks a significant escalation in the ongoing diplomatic standoff between the two Asian powers.
Japanese media reported that Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi confirmed the deployment is proceeding on schedule. He said the missile installation would strengthen Japan’s defence posture and “reduce the possibility of an armed attack on Japan,” especially amid rising tensions in the Taiwan Strait.
Relations between Beijing and Tokyo have deteriorated sharply in recent weeks. The situation worsened after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested that Japan could intervene militarily if Taiwan were attacked, a statement that triggered strong backlash from China.
Responding to Japan’s latest move, China’s foreign ministry accused Tokyo of deliberately heightening regional tensions. Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said the missile deployment was an intentional provocation that risked triggering military confrontation. She added that, in combination with Prime Minister Takaichi’s earlier remarks on Taiwan, Japan’s actions were “extremely dangerous and warrant high vigilance from neighbouring countries and the international community.”
Yonaguni Island has hosted a Japanese Self-Defense Forces base since 2016, despite local resistance during the initial planning stages. Tokyo had previously revealed plans to station the Type 03 Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Guided Missile system there to counter potential threats from aircraft and incoming missiles. The new deployment appears to be part of Japan’s broader strategy to reinforce defence capabilities in its southwestern island chain, which lies close to Chinese military activity zones.
China maintains that Taiwan is part of its territory and has repeatedly stated it will use force if necessary to bring the self-ruled island under its control. Japan, meanwhile, considers peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait essential to its own national security due to geographic proximity and trade routes.
Taiwan’s government welcomed Japan’s strengthening of military infrastructure on Yonaguni. Deputy Foreign Minister Wu Chih-chung told lawmakers that Tokyo has every right to take measures to defend its territory and that Japan’s actions do not pose any threat to others. He added that Japan has no territorial disputes with Taiwan, and its bolstered presence in the region “helps maintain security in the Taiwan Strait” and supports Taiwan’s broader strategic interests.
The latest exchange highlights the deepening geopolitical rifts in East Asia as Japan, China, and Taiwan navigate fast-changing regional security dynamics.
