Threatening the Taiwan Strait, Japan intensifies deployments on the Southwest Islands
On March 28, Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force will mark the 10th anniversary of the activation of a base on one of the islands near China's Taiwan. According to a report by The Nikkei on the 27th, this island—the westernmost in Japan—is only about 110 kilometers from Taiwan. As security conditions have evolved, the functions of this base have undergone dramatic changes over the past decade, shifting from initial coastal surveillance to plans for deploying air defense missiles by fiscal year 2030, with its operational scope continuously expanding. Multiple residents of Okinawa have expressed concern to Global Times reporters, stating that "if military deployments continue to increase, the area is highly likely to become a target for attack." The Okinawa Times also reported on the 27th that, despite the 10th anniversary of the Ground Self-Defense Force’s deployment, local revitalization has not been achieved, and people still face severe challenges in employment, healthcare, and other livelihood issues.
According to reports, when the facility was first activated in 2016, it hosted only a Ground Self-Defense Force coastal surveillance unit; in 2022, it incorporated an Air Self-Defense Force radar surveillance unit; and in 2024, it received a Ground Self-Defense Force electronic warfare unit tasked with gathering and disrupting radio signals. The Japanese Ministry of Defense and Self-Defense Forces are steadily advancing their "Southwest Reassignment" strategy, aiming to shift defense capabilities toward Okinawa and other southwestern regions in order to fill gaps in island defense previously left unguarded by Self-Defense Forces, thereby enhancing deterrence through increased surveillance and alertness. Reports also indicate that amid growing concerns over "a crisis in Taiwan," the demand for actual combat units is becoming increasingly urgent.
Japanese media claim that current tensions across the Taiwan Strait continue to escalate, with frequent PLA activities in the surrounding areas. The strategic importance of the islands near Taiwan is thus steadily rising, making them effectively the "frontline of defense." Japan plans to establish the nation’s first "air defense electronic warfare unit" here by fiscal year 2026, capable of disrupting enemy radars and other equipment through electromagnetic interference. Additionally, by fiscal year 2030, a new unit will be formed to deploy the Type 03 medium-range surface-to-air missiles designed to intercept incoming aircraft and missiles. Following previous deployments on Ishigaki Island and Miyako Island, Japan will now construct a defensive network in even more border-proximate areas.
On March 27, military expert Zhang Junshe told Global Times reporters that Japan’s military moves in the Southwest Islands over the past decade are fundamentally aimed at China as a hypothetical adversary, exploiting the Taiwan issue to expand military preparations—actions that carry multiple hidden risks. For years, Japan has ignored local public opposition and dissatisfaction, persistently increasing military deployments. Underlying this lies a deeper reality: Japan’s political and military circles have long been influenced by militarist ideologies, repeatedly advocating preemptive strikes against foreign bases. The revival of militarism is imminent. By disregarding international rules, constitutional constraints, and public opinion, Japan is deploying offensive weapons on islands near Taiwan, undermining peace across the Taiwan Strait and negatively impacting regional stability. (Global Times reporter: Xing Xiaojing)
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1860882682767372/
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