Japan to Deploy Missiles on Yonaguni by 2031
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- Japan will deploy medium‑range surface‑to‑air missiles on Yonaguni Island by March 2031, defence minister Shinjiro Koizumi announced.
- Shinjiro Koizumi said the missile system can track 100 targets at once and engage up to 12, with a 50 km range and 360‑degree coverage.
- China imposed export curbs on 20 Japanese companies and entities a day before the announcement, citing national security concerns.
- Yonaguni Island, 110 km from Taiwan, currently hosts 160 self‑defence force members and will receive an electronic‑warfare unit in fiscal year 2026.
- Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi secured a landslide parliamentary victory, giving her political space to double down on defence spending and assertive policies.
- Japan’s missile unit timeline may shift based on facility upgrades, but the current plan targets fiscal year 2030 for readiness.
Why it matters: The missile deployment gives Japan a direct air‑defence shield within 50 km of Taiwan, enhancing its self‑defence force’s reach, while China’s simultaneous export curbs on 20 Japanese firms underscore the growing strategic friction between the two neighbours and marks a shift toward a more assertive defence policy after Prime Minister Takaichi’s election victory.
