Japan Deploys First Long-Range Missiles in Historic Defence Policy Shift
Japan has initiated the deployment of its first long-range missile at a southwestern army camp, a significant move that enhances its offensive capabilities and represents a departure from its longstanding self-defence-only policy. The upgraded Type-12 land-to-ship missiles, developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, are now operational at Camp Kengun in Kumamoto prefecture.
Enhanced Range and Strategic Implications
With a range of approximately 1,000 kilometres (620 miles), the new missile marks a substantial upgrade from the original's 200-kilometre (125-mile) reach. This extended range allows it to strike targets as far as mainland China, providing Japan with a "standoff" capability to hit enemy missile bases from a distance. Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi emphasised the deployment's importance, citing "the most severe and complex security environment in the postwar era" and stating it "demonstrates Japan's firm determination and capability to defend itself."
Local Opposition and Regional Tensions
However, the deployment has faced criticism from local residents, who staged protests outside Camp Kengun. Protesters argue that the move will escalate regional tensions and increase the risk of the area becoming a target for potential adversaries. This opposition highlights the domestic challenges accompanying Japan's military expansion.
Broader Military Expansion Across Japan
In a related development, a hypersonic glide vehicle, designed for island defence, was deployed to Camp Fuji in Shizuoka prefecture, west of Tokyo. Additional deployments of the upgraded Type-12 missiles and hypersonic glide vehicles are planned at other locations in Japan, including Hokkaido in the north and Miyazaki in the south, by March 2028.
Japan also plans to deploy U.S.-made Tomahawk cruise missiles, with a range of 1,600 kilometres (990 miles), on the Japanese destroyer JS Chokai later this year, with eventual deployment on seven other destroyers. This forms part of a comprehensive strategy to bolster maritime and coastal defence capabilities.
Defence Spending and Regional Threats
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's Cabinet approved a record defence budget exceeding 9 trillion yen ($58 billion) for the fiscal year beginning in April, aimed at fortifying strike-back capability and coastal defence with cruise missiles and unmanned arsenals. Japan considers China its main regional security threat and has fortified its southwestern islands near the East China Sea in recent years.
Tensions have escalated further since Takaichi's statement in November that any Chinese military action against Taiwan could be grounds for a Japanese military response. In June, Japan spotted two Chinese aircraft carriers operating near its remote islands in the Pacific for the first time, sparking concerns about Beijing's expanding military activity. In response, the defence minister announced the establishment of a new office dedicated to studying China's Pacific operations.
