Ever since China increased its military presence around Taiwan’s coast, Japan has been facing an imminent threat of a ballistic attack. To counter threats plans on expanding its arsenal. The expansion mainly includes long-range missiles.
Japan’s newspaper, Yomiuri daily reported that unidentified government sources have confirmed that Japan will be expanding its arsenal of ballistic missiles. The expansion will be completed sometime around the fiscal year 2024. The newer, improved version of the missiles will enable them to be launched from ships and planes.
Japan and its plan to ‘counter attack’
Last week, when Nancy Pelosi visited the self-governing nation of Taiwan, China increased its military activities. Soon after, Pelosi landed in Japan as part of the last leg of her Asia tour, China launched five missiles into its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The missiles were launched into the water space that was in close proximity to Japan’s Okinawa prefecture.
The move invoked diplomatic protests from Japan. “This is a grave issue that concerns our country’s national security and people’s safety” Defence Minister Nobuo Kishi described the issue.
On the other hand, North Korea has also proven to be a looming threat to Japan. Its recent claims of having tested a hypersonic weapon along with more than a thousand missiles capable of striking Japan are concerning. In order to counter the present threat, Japan plans on stockpiling long-range missiles.
Not only does it plan on deploying its domestically produced ground-launched Type-12 standoff missiles, but Japan also plans on expanding its range. The plan is to extend its current range from 200 kilometres to 1,000 km. The missiles will be stationed on the southwestern Nansei islands to the Kyushu region. North Korean and Chinese coasts will fall within the striking distance of the improved missiles.
China and the U.S.
Presently, China has approximately 300 ground-based missile cruises and 1900 ballistic missiles, all of these can hit Japan easily. The U.S. is also building up its arsenal of long-range ballistic missiles. Now that the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty is expired, which prevented both the USSR and the U.S from manufacturing missiles with ranges of 500 km-5500 km, it is no longer bound to abide by it. In this scenario, Japan wishes to overcome this very “missile gap”,
As of now, Japan has no long-range missiles in its possession. Its emphasis on the arsenal has, naturally, grown over the years. The missiles will “will drastically strengthen its defense capabilities within five years, without ruling out any options, including the possession of counterstrike capabilities.” according to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
Japan’s annual security report
Earlier this year in July, Japan released its annual security report that anticipated an increased security threat. The report expressed concern over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the China-Taiwan issue.
The very same report called for long-range missiles. Apart from the said missiles, Japan also plans on fortifying its cyberspace and technology.
Moreover, the report also expressed concern that Russia might “further enhance and deepen relationships with China”. It also made no secret of the fact that China was an active maritime security threat.
Japan justifies the expansion as necessary given the present threats and its deteriorating defence condition. However, experts are saying that Japan might be steering away from its pacifist constitution. The constitution is a post-World War 2 result. It dictates Japan’s foreign policy and governance which is largely influenced by Japan’s loss in the War. It renounces war and limits the use of the military to only self-defence purposes. Japan’s current defence condition can be attributed to its constitution.
Japan has not commented on the matter yet.
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