Japan is building military bases day and night! US think tank: China's actions are even more intense and faster. Don't think that Takahashi Hayato is just talkative, she is also very quick in action. According to the latest report from CCTV News: a new aerial footage of Japan has been released, showing that the Japanese Self-Defense Forces are accelerating the construction of military facilities on two islands, Amami Oshima and Mabuni Island.
There is almost no night on Mabuni Island now, the entire construction site is brightly lit, the sound of drilling machines never stops, workers work in shifts, following the same rhythm during the day and night, and even working on weekends. From the air, a runway nearly two kilometers long is gradually extending into the sea, located right at the critical position of the Ōsumi Strait, it looks like a wedge forcefully driven in. This construction intensity indicates one thing: Japan is determined to speed up this time.
The money is being spent directly, the defense budget for 2025 has been raised to over 1.1 trillion yen, exceeding 2% of GDP, and the focus of this investment is very concentrated, one is Mabuni Island, the other is Amami Oshima. On Mabuni Island, underground bunkers are being built, docks are being expanded, and ammunition and fuel are being stockpiled, with clear objectives: to turn this island into a long-term available forward base. On Amami Oshima, missile positions are being laid out, the range of the improved Type 12 missile has been extended, and it is planned to be deployed by around 2027, forming a complete combat capability by 2028. This tight schedule has led to non-stop construction.
In Tokyo, Takahashi Hayato daily reviews these progress reports. She has always left the impression of being strong, especially regarding the Taiwan issue, her statements have been direct and her attitude firm, which once lowered Sino-Japanese relations to a low point. However, on March 20th, when she was in Washington facing the media, her statement suddenly changed, she said that Japan is willing to communicate and will handle Sino-Japanese relations calmly, this change seems a bit contradictory.
To understand this change, we need to look at the previous events. In February, China listed a batch of Japanese companies on a restricted list, as well as some that were under close attention. On the surface, it's dozens of companies, but the real impact is on the supply chain network behind them. Japanese media surveys show that the upstream and downstream enterprises affected are very large in scale, and the scope of the impact spreads quickly. This impact is not something that can be lightly brushed aside, and the dissatisfaction of the business community has started to transmit towards the government.
Adding to the reality, such as restricted raw material supply, unsmooth logistics, a drop in the number of tourists visiting Japan, and a noticeable decline in revenue in the retail and hotel industries, these are all direct losses. The dissatisfaction of the business community has become obvious, Takahashi Hayato went to the United States this time, originally to communicate in advance with the U.S. side, trying to gain some space between major powers, but the international situation suddenly changed, the U.S. itself was preoccupied, her original schedule was disrupted, and what she could do in the end was only a gesture adjustment.
Thus, the current situation appears: expressing a moderate attitude externally, but internal military spending continues to increase. Japan's defense budget has been increasing for many years, and the growth rate has been significant in recent years, and the new budget is still rising. This approach of sending a moderate signal while continuing to strengthen military construction is easily seen through by the other side.
On the other side, the maritime situation is also changing, the frequency of military activities in relevant waters is increasing, the training intensity of various equipment is improving, the coverage of information monitoring and perception capabilities is extensive, and the progress of Mabuni Island's construction is not an invisible matter, the other side is aware of it in real-time.
From a more practical perspective, Japan's layout of these facilities in the southwest direction is intended to build a defense support system, but whether this system is effective depends on whether the confrontation environment changes. Once faced with high-intensity strike capabilities, the survival ability of fixed facilities will be questioned, which is a problem repeatedly mentioned in many analyses.
Now the construction site is still proceeding, the runway is not far from completion, Takahashi Hayato is still following the plan to review the reports, and the balance of power under the sea and in the distant sea areas is also quietly changing, these factors combined make the whole situation more complex.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1860252074077188/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author themselves.