Ryan Chan
A Newsweek map illustrates Japan's planned deployment of its new long-range missiles to deter and defend against potential attacks from its main adversaries, China and North Korea.
The deployment is part of Japan's effort to strengthen its standoff defense capabilities, the ability of a military force to engage and defeat an enemy from a significant distance, outside the range of the attacker's radar defences or missiles. The Defense Ministry in Tokyo previously told Newsweek that such capabilities are intended to target naval and landing forces attempting to invade the country.
Newsweek has reached out to the Chinese Foreign Ministry for comment via email. North Korea's Embassy in Beijing did not immediately respond to a written request for comment.
Why It Matters
Japan plays a key role in the United States' strategy to contain China's rapid military buildup, helping form a north-south defensive line of islands along with Taiwan and the Philippines.
While Tokyo is deeply concerned about the impact of potential Chinese aggression against Taiwan it also has territorial and maritime disputes with Beijing in the nearby East China Sea.
Taiwan, a self-ruled island and U.S. security partner, lies close to Japan's outlying southwestern islands,
Nuclear-armed North Korea often threatens Japan by firing missiles into waters near the U.S. ally. Tokyo is developing counterstrike missiles for self-defense, capable of hitting enemy bases—a move Pyongyang has accused of stoking "war fever."
What To Know
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