Alert for New Asian War: Japan Deploys Long-Range Missiles Near China

Japan has deployed long-range missiles in its southwestern region near China. This comes as relations between Tokyo and Beijing reach their lowest point in several years.

The missiles have been installed in Kumamoto in the southern Kyushu region. Japan is seeking to bolster its military capabilities amid rising activities by the Chinese navy in the East China Sea.

“Long-range defence capabilities allow us to counter threats from enemy forces attempting to attack our country… while ensuring the safety of our personnel,” said Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, quoted by AFP on Tuesday (31/3/2026).

“This is a very important initiative to strengthen Japan’s deterrence and response capabilities,” he added.

The surface-to-ship guided missile system has a range of around 1,000 kilometres (620 miles). Parts of mainland China can be reached, including Shanghai, which is 900 km from Kumamoto.

“High-speed launched projectiles designed to defend remote islands from enemy forces have been deployed in Shizuoka, another coastal area closer to Tokyo facing the Pacific Ocean,” Koizumi added.

Japan has long maintained a policy of using its military only for the strictest self-defence. However, in recent years, Tokyo has gradually built up its defence capacity amid increasing military activities by neighbouring countries in the region, including China, Russia, and North Korea.

In 2022, Japan approved plans to deploy missiles with counter-attack capabilities. This is to reduce reliance on ballistic missile defence, as outlined in the country’s white paper.

Relations between Japan and China have deteriorated in recent months after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi signalled in November that Tokyo could intervene militarily in any attack on sovereign Taiwan.

China views Taiwan as its territory and has not ruled out taking it by force.

Critics of Tokyo’s missile deployment argue that it could turn the area into a target for enemy attacks. Earlier this month, local media reported that Japanese ground forces sent missile launchers to Kumamoto without warning local residents, prompting dozens of protesters to demonstrate in front of the local military base.