Japan to deploy missiles on island near Taiwan by 2031
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Tokyo: Japan has announced plans to deploy advanced surface-to-air missiles on Yonaguni Island, its westernmost territory close to Taiwan, by March 2031, Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said on Tuesday, marking the first time Tokyo has attached a clear timeline to the initiative.
Yonaguni lies roughly 110 kilometres east of Taiwan and is part of the Ryukyu island chain extending from Japan’s main islands toward Taiwan. The planned deployment involves medium-range systems capable of intercepting aircraft and missiles as Japan bolsters the air defences of its remote outposts.
The Japanese government first unveiled the broader plan in 2022 to enhance defences on western islands but had not previously set a firm completion date. Koizumi stressed that while the target is fiscal 2030–31, the schedule could shift depending on facility preparations underway on the island.
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