Japan to deploy missile methods on island close to Taiwan by 2031: Defence Minister

Japan’s Authorities plans to deploy surface-to-air missiles on certainly one of its distant western islands close to Taiwan by March 2031, the nation’s Defence Minister stated on Tuesday (February 24, 2026).

It’s the first time Japan has specified the timing of the deployment. The Ministry introduced the plan in 2022 to ramp up its air defences on the island, which already hosts a Japanese navy base.

Japan’s Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi stated at a daily press convention in Tokyo that the deployment on Yonaguni Island would happen within the 2030 fiscal yr, which ends in March of the next calendar yr.

The feedback come throughout a months-long row between Japan and China, with Beijing on Tuesday (February 24) asserting that it was imposing export restrictions on dozens of Japanese companies that it stated have been concerned in build up the nation’s navy.

Mr. MKoizumi, who visited Yonaguni in November, stated the Ministry will maintain a briefing for residents subsequent week on the island, positioned roughly 110 kilometres (68 miles) east of Taiwan and 1,900 kilometres southwest of Tokyo.

Japan’s conservative Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi advised in November that Tokyo might intervene militarily in any assault on self-ruled Taiwan. China views Taiwan as its territory and has not dominated out taking it by pressure.

Since Ms. Takaichi remarked, Beijing has discouraged Chinese language nationals from visiting Japan, which hit tourism, one of many pillars of the Japanese financial system. Beijing’s high diplomat Wang Yi stated on the Munich Safety Convention earlier this month that forces in Japan have been searching for to “revive militarism”.

Ms. Takaichi informed parliament on Friday that China was intensifying makes an attempt to vary the established order “by pressure or coercion” within the East China Sea and the South China Sea and has stated Japan must strengthen its defence capabilities.