A Japanese military vehicle carrying units of Patriot missiles leaves a port on Ishigaki. On Friday, Japan is set to approve an increase in annual military spending, including funds for a new military base on Ishigaki. Photo: Kyodo/REUTERS
Wall Street Journal: Japan Is Building Missile Bases to Confront Rising Threat From China
Tokyo rethinks approach of strict pacifism, plans new military installations on southwestern islands.
ISHIGAKI, Japan—Japan’s military is laying the groundwork for batteries of antiship and antiaircraft missiles in a quiet, sugar-cane-filled valley here, as it girds to confront what Tokyo views as its greatest long-term threat: China.
Ishigaki is one of a string of subtropical islands in the far southwest of the Japanese archipelago—the closest is about 200 miles from China’s coast—that defense officials are fortifying with troop garrisons, new weapons and a radar installation.
As China becomes more powerful and assertive and North Korea builds up its nuclear arsenal, Japan is rethinking its approach to defense and moving away
from the policies of strict pacifism it has followed since its defeat in World War II.
Read more ....
Update: Japan to build missile bases on islands to counter the rising threat from China after PM Abe argued country should reduce its dependency on the US military (Daily Mail).
WNU Editor: For more information on Japan's anti-missile program, see the links below ....
Japan Approves Missile Defense System Amid NKorea Threat -- US News and World Report/AP
Japan to expand ballistic missile defense with ground-based Aegis batteries -- Reuters
Japan approves purchase of US missile defense system to counter North Korea threat -- The Hill
Japan to buy Aegis Ashore defence system to counter North Korea missile threats -- SCMP
Japanese Cabinet Approves Two Aegis Ashore Systems Deployment -- Defense World
Japan approves US missile system purchase to counter North Korea threat -- Press Association
Japan to Buy Two US-Built Anti-Missile Systems -- VOA
Japan's Shinzo Abe Approves Ballistic Missile Defense Expansion -- The Diplomat
Read more ....
Update: Japan to build missile bases on islands to counter the rising threat from China after PM Abe argued country should reduce its dependency on the US military (Daily Mail).
WNU Editor: For more information on Japan's anti-missile program, see the links below ....
Japan Approves Missile Defense System Amid NKorea Threat -- US News and World Report/AP
Japan to expand ballistic missile defense with ground-based Aegis batteries -- Reuters
Japan approves purchase of US missile defense system to counter North Korea threat -- The Hill
Japan to buy Aegis Ashore defence system to counter North Korea missile threats -- SCMP
Japanese Cabinet Approves Two Aegis Ashore Systems Deployment -- Defense World
Japan approves US missile system purchase to counter North Korea threat -- Press Association
Japan to Buy Two US-Built Anti-Missile Systems -- VOA
Japan's Shinzo Abe Approves Ballistic Missile Defense Expansion -- The Diplomat
