Flashpoints

Japan Mulls Deployment of Anti-Ship Missiles on Okinawa

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Flashpoints

Japan Mulls Deployment of Anti-Ship Missiles on Okinawa

Amid a growing Chinese naval presence, Japan is considering additional steps to protect Miyako Strait.

Japan Mulls Deployment of Anti-Ship Missiles on Okinawa
Credit: Wikimedia Commons/Japan Ground Self-Defense Force

The Japanese government is considering deploying surface-to-ship missile systems to the main island of Okinawa prefecture to strengthen Japan’s defense posture in response to China’s growing maritime assertiveness in the region, local media reported on February 27.

By deploying anti-ship missiles on Okinawa’s main island, the Japanese Ministry of Defense (MoD) thinks it can cover the entire Miyako Strait, located between the islands of Miyako, about 170 kilometers (105 miles) from the disputed Senkakus, and Okinawa. The strait is one of the principal gateways for the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) to the Pacific Ocean.

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