【Wen/Observer Net, Ruan Jiaqi】

On the 4th, according to a report by Asahi Shimbun citing multiple sources, Japan's Ministry of Defense has decided to strengthen the functions of Iwo Jima Air Base, using the so-called "frequent military activities" of China in the Pacific as an excuse.

The report said that the Japanese government had long focused its defense on the southwest islands such as Okinawa, but is now shifting its defense focus to the Pacific side, which has long been regarded as a "blind spot for surveillance and monitoring."

According to sources, the Ministry of Defense plans to start related research in the new fiscal year, enhancing port facilities and runway construction at Iwo Jima; in addition to improving the monitoring system, it also considers building a non-fixed pier to meet the needs of large ships docking.

Currently, about 250 members of the Maritime Self-Defense Force and about 100 members of the Air Self-Defense Force are stationed on Iwo Jima. The island has a runway about 2,650 meters long in the center, mainly used for U.S. carrier-based aircraft to conduct land-based takeoff and landing training. The Self-Defense Forces' aircraft are not permanently stationed on the island.

However, the report said that in order to quickly respond to so-called "Chinese aircraft and other aircraft approaching," Japan is also studying the plan to permanently deploy Self-Defense Forces fighter jets on the island.

Japanese media also revealed that the Ministry of Defense is also considering establishing an air defense identification zone over the Ogasawara Islands. Japan's current air defense identification zone was set by the U.S. in the 1950s, covering the four main islands and the Ryukyu Islands (the Southwest Islands), but has never included the Ogasawara Islands, located in the Pacific.

Illustration: Asahi Shimbun Mapmaking

The report analyzed that once the air defense identification zone is established, Japan's Air Self-Defense Forces could conduct emergency takeoffs to intercept unidentified aircraft or suspected airspace violations entering the area. Japan would inevitably deploy radar in this area and adjust the deployment of aircraft.

Japan's preliminary plan is to fill the current airspace surveillance gap with equipment such as airborne early warning and control aircraft, but expanding the air defense identification zone will certainly cause international controversy and may escalate military tensions between Japan and China.

Additionally, the Ministry of Defense plans to establish a so-called "Pacific Defense Concept Office" in April, and include the content of "strengthening Pacific defense" in three security-related documents revised this year, pushing forward related defense measures.

Strengthening military capabilities in areas more than 1,000 kilometers from the mainland, Japan's so-called "defense" rhetoric is fundamentally unsustainable, and its "obvious intention" of military expansion in the Pacific has long been evident.

Japanese media deliberately attributed these military moves to China, claiming that "given China's active military activities, the Japanese government is accelerating the strengthening of Pacific defense forces," and even hyped up the example of China's two aircraft carriers conducting joint training in the Pacific in June 2025 as so-called evidence.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry has clearly responded, emphasizing that China's naval activities in the relevant waters fully comply with international law and conventions, and China has always adhered to a defensive national defense policy, hoping that Japan will objectively and rationally view the situation.

In recent times, Japan has been making various small moves. Just last week, Japan accelerated the relaxation of restrictions on the export of lethal weapons, approved the relaxation of regulations on the transfer of defense equipment, and also announced for the first time the schedule for deploying missile units near China's Taiwan in the Ryukyu Islands.

At the regular press conference of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on February 25, Spokesperson Mao Ning addressed Japan's actions, stating that the international community should be highly vigilant, work together to safeguard the results of the victory in the War of Resistance against Japan and the post-war international order, and resolutely resist Japan's "new militarism" actions.

Japanese media also pointed out that Japan's deployment plan on Iwo Jima faces multiple practical challenges.

Iwo Jima is located in the southern part of the Ogasawara Islands chain, with a coastline of about 22 kilometers and an area of about 20 square kilometers. Due to frequent volcanic activity and severe ground uplift, runways and fuel facilities often crack; the coastal shallow areas are large, making it difficult for large ships to dock, and the harsh environment including high temperatures and volcanic gases leads to a serious water shortage problem.

Japanese government officials admitted that although the construction of facilities on Iwo Jima is extremely difficult, the Ministry of Defense will still accelerate the study of strengthening the base functions. They also admitted that promoting the preparation and turning the island into a military stronghold is "not easy."

The report also mentioned that Iwo Jima's historical issues left over from World War II have also become obstacles to the implementation of the plan: many remains of American and Japanese soldiers still lie scattered on the island, and how to communicate and coordinate with the families of the deceased is also a challenge that Japan must face.

Iwo Jima was an important military base for the Japanese during World War II. In February 1945, a fierce battle lasting about a month took place between the U.S. and Japan on the island. The Japanese used unconventional combat methods, such as suicide aircraft, and the commander, Tadamasa Takashima, ordered his soldiers to "kill 10 Americans before each of them dies."

This battle is considered one of the most brutal battles of World War II: the U.S. suffered 6,821 deaths, 21,865 injuries, totaling 28,686 casualties; the Japanese defending force had 22,703 deaths and 1,083 captives, totaling 23,786 casualties, with a casualty ratio of 1.23:1 between the U.S. and Japan.

During the battle, the U.S. aircraft carrier "Saratoga" was heavily damaged, and the escort carrier "Bismarck Sea" was sunk by Japanese suicide aircraft.

After the difficult capture of Iwo Jima, the U.S. gained an important base for bombing Japan and opened the way to directly attack Japan. With the rapid expansion of the U.S. airbase, by the end of the war, the number of B-29 bombers that took off from the island reached 2,400 sorties, greatly improving the strategic bombing efficiency against Tokyo and other core areas of Japan.

More importantly, the heavy U.S. casualties on Iwo Jima led the American leadership to believe that the invasion of Japan would encounter more stubborn resistance, indirectly leading the United States to decide to drop atomic bombs on Japan, accelerating Japan's surrender process.

The Iwo Jima battle also produced a classic photograph of the U.S. during World War II - six U.S. Marines bravely raising the American flag on Mount Suribachi on the island, becoming a symbol of American national spirit. The U.S. government also erected a giant statue based on this model near Arlington National Cemetery.

On February 23, 1945, the U.S. Marine Corps 5th Division's 28th Regiment had just captured Mount Suribachi and held a flag-raising ceremony at the summit at 10:20 a.m. Visual China

On February 19, 1985, exactly 40 years after the end of the battle, about 400 Japanese and American veterans returned to Iwo Jima to jointly commemorate the fallen, embrace and weep, and erected a bilingual English-Japanese stone tablet.

The inscription reads: "We remember the past where we crossed life and death, fighting with courage and honor. We will forever remember the departed on Iwo Jima and pray that such tragedies will never happen again."

Yet, Japan's current military actions are breaking the peace that this land has maintained for a long time.

This article is exclusive to Observer Net and cannot be reprinted without permission.

Original: toutiao.com/article/7613604767817859611/

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