Japan’s defence minister Shinjiro Koizumi on Sunday announced plans to deploy surface-to-air missiles on the country’s westernmost island of Yonaguni remain on schedule, emphasising that the move aimed to reinforce deterrence rather than raise regional tensions.His remarks came during a visit to the strategically located base, 110 km east of Taiwan, amid continued sparring between Tokyo and Beijing over security issues linked to the island and as diplomatic friction lingers over prime minister Sanae Takaichi’s recent Taiwan-related comments, The Japan Times reported.“The deployment can help lower the chance of an armed attack on our country,” Koizumi told reporters as he inspected the Yonaguni base. “The view that it will heighten regional tensions is not accurate.”Tokyo is pressing ahead with stationing medium-range surface-to-air missiles on Yonaguni as part of a broader military build-up across Japan’s southern island chain, reflecting its deepening concerns over China’s expanding military reach and the risk of a Taiwan contingency. Those concerns have been sharpened by a diplomatic row triggered by Takaichi’s remarks suggesting Japan could theoretically cooperate with other nations militarily if China attacked Taiwan — comments that drew a sharp rebuke and economic retaliation from Beijing, Bloomberg reported.Before arriving on the island, the minister toured bases on Ishigaki and Miyako — key nodes in Japan’s defence posture. Ishigaki hosts anti-ship missiles, while Miyako houses air-surveillance units and ammunition facilities. Further east, Okinawa contains major Japanese and US military installations.Yonaguni marks the western end of the Ryukyu island chain. As regional tensions have risen, Chinese state-controlled media have published articles questioning Japan’s sovereignty over the islands by citing the historic Ryukyu kingdom’s past independence. While few residents of Okinawa Prefecture seek independence today, many remain wary of being drawn into a conflict if military sites on the islands become targets.Despite being a popular diving destination, Yonaguni is a vital surveillance hub, equipped with radar that monitors nearby seas and airspace, as well as an electronic-warfare unit introduced in 2024 to disrupt enemy communications and guidance systems. In recent weeks, the US military conducted an exercise moving supplies from Okinawa to Yonaguni to simulate establishing a forward-operating base during a crisis. Koizumi refused to comment on the potential impact on Yonaguni in such a scenario, saying he would not address “hypothetical” situations.The island’s vulnerability was underscored in 2022 when China, responding to then US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, launched military drills that saw ballistic missiles land just south of Yonaguni.Meeting the island’s mayor, Koizumi said Japan must continue strengthening its Self-Defence Forces while deepening coordination with the US. “Today, Japan faces the most severe and complex security environment since the end of World War II,” he said. “To protect the peaceful livelihoods of the Japanese people — including everyone here on Yonaguni — we must strengthen the Self-Defense Forces’ capabilities.”
