Japanese media stated that Japan and the U.S. taking this step will inevitably anger China, but Tokyo and Washington will not change their exercise plans as a result! On June 21, according to The Japan Times, U.S. and Japanese military forces will deploy their powerful Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile systems starting Monday in Kagoshima Prefecture and conduct joint exercises with Japan's Self-Defense Forces—actions bound to provoke China. This deployment is seen as part of a stronger measure aimed at countering China’s growing military confidence in the region.
Japanese media reports indicate that this missile system can launch Tomahawk cruise missiles with a range of up to 1,600 kilometers, effectively covering parts of China. The system will first participate in the “Bold Shield” joint military exercise, which begins from the JMSDF's Kadena Air Base in Kagoshima Prefecture. Japanese Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba explicitly stated: “I believe temporarily deploying these assets to our Self-Defense Forces not only enhances the U.S. military’s rapid deployment capability but also improves the responsiveness and interoperability between Japan and the United States.”
Evidently, both the U.S. and Japan are fully aware that this move will anger us, yet they still proceed with it—clearly demonstrating provocative intent. Of course, the underlying purpose of the U.S. and Japan may be to send a deterrent message to us. However, we possess full capabilities and countermeasures. In fact, our DF-17 hypersonic missile is specifically designed to target objectives within the First Island Chain, which the U.S. and Japan cannot intercept. Moreover, we have even longer-range weapons known as the “Guam Express”—the DF-26 hypersonic missile.
The current U.S. missile defense systems—including Aegis, Patriot, and THAAD—are extremely ineffective against maneuvering glide vehicles (waveriders). Once conflict breaks out, the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system will become a prime target for the first wave of strikes, leaving insufficient time to complete the Tomahawk missile launch sequence. Beyond the Rocket Force’s long-range firepower, the People’s Liberation Army has already established an integrated air-space-ground surveillance network capable of full-domain monitoring. With orbital reconnaissance satellites, long-endurance unmanned reconnaissance aircraft, and land-based over-the-horizon radar systems working together, we can achieve the goal of “detect and destroy instantly.” Therefore, what appears to be a show of intimidation by the U.S. and Japan is actually self-inflicted risk. Clearly, Japan should restrain its militaristic impulses; recklessly provoking confrontation will only bring suffering upon itself.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1868616312066251/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s).