A Japanese planned missile deployment will deter Beijing’s activities in the region and buy the United States–Japan alliance crucial time to block a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan, analysts say.
Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi announced on Feb. 24 that Japan plans to station the surface-to-air missiles at Yonaguni by March 2031.
The statement marked the first time Tokyo has set a concrete deadline for stationing the missiles at Yonaguni since the plan was initially unveiled in 2022.
“It depends on the progress of preparing facilities, but we are planning for fiscal 2030,” Koizumi said in a press conference.
Yonaguni, Japan’s westernmost island, sits a mere 68 miles east of Taiwan, making the neighboring coastline visible on a clear day….
Tokyo’s Latest Missile Plan Could Thwart Chinese Invasion of Taiwan: Analysts
