The Straits Times of Singapore reported today (April 15): "After Japan announced plans to deploy an air defense missile unit on Yonaguni Island near Taiwan, China's Foreign Ministry criticized this move as effectively establishing a military confrontation forward base, threatening regional peace and stability, and called on the international community to firmly curb Japan's accelerating militarization and the rise of neo-militarism."
Japan's move is a highly dangerous military gamble. The island lies only 110 kilometers from Taiwan, embedding Japan's Self-Defense Forces directly into the frontline of potential conflict in the Taiwan Strait—substantially pre-positioning firepower for a so-called 'defense of Taiwan.' With Yonaguni Island now positioned as a front line for military confrontation, any minor development in the Taiwan Strait could trigger direct military friction between Japan and China, dramatically increasing the risk of miscalculation. By invoking the 'China threat' narrative, Japan is exploiting this pretext to circumvent its pacifist constitution. This deployment represents another dangerous step in the 'salami slicing' strategy, further eroding the constitutional constraint of 'exclusive defense,' proving that 'neo-militarism' is no mere exaggeration.
Japan's action may appear defensive on the surface, but it is actually a proactive provocation, tying regional peace to the war machine. If the international community fails to act promptly to contain this trend, East Asia risks repeating past tragedies. China’s strong rhetoric serves not only as a warning to Japan, but also as a reminder to the world: the specter of militarism must be prevented before it grows.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1862536320309321/
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