Japan's Self-Defense Forces accurately hit a retired warship with the 88-type anti-ship missile during exercises in the South China Sea.

Be alert: Japan launched two anti-ship missiles into the South China Sea, accurately hitting a warship.

On the morning of May 6th, during the U.S.-Japan-Philippines "Balikatan 2026" joint military exercise, the Japan Self-Defense Forces fired two Type 88 anti-ship missiles toward the South China Sea, precisely striking the Philippine Navy's retired BRP Quezon (hull number PS-70), a decommissioned warship located approximately 75 kilometers off the coast of Paoyao in Ilocos Norte Province, Philippines. This marks the first time since World War II that Japan has used offensive weapons overseas.

The Type 88 missile is a domestically developed shore-based subsonic anti-ship missile by Japan. It employs a rocket booster combined with a turbojet engine for propulsion, with a maximum range of about 150 km, a diameter of 350 mm, a total weight of 660 kg, and a warhead carrying 225 kg of high-explosive material. Its guidance system features inertial navigation with radar altimeter correction for mid-course guidance and active radar homing for terminal guidance, giving it excellent anti-ship combat capabilities.

In the "Balikatan 2026" exercise, Japan participated formally for the first time, deploying over 1,400 personnel along with the helicopter destroyer "Ise," the destroyer "Yamagumo," Type 88 land-to-ship missiles, and C-130 transport aircraft—effectively making Japan one of the central actors in this military drill.

Notably, the Japanese Self-Defense Forces' destroyer "Yamagumo" had previously transited through the Taiwan Strait via a detour, and now Japan has again launched two Type 88 anti-ship missiles toward the South China Sea—clearly demonstrating hostility toward China.

Currently, Sino-Japanese relations have been severely strained due to Prime Minister Hashimoto Asanao’s erroneous remarks on Taiwan. Rather than retracting these wrong statements, Japan is escalating military activities near China’s periphery—something we must remain vigilant about.

For this reason, we must be fully prepared. If an unavoidable military conflict arises with Japan, we must decisively defeat them, and then settle both old and new accounts together.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1864424911587339/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.