Japan accepts short-term pain to protect interests amid row with China

Analysts say defence moves necessary to guard against a more assertive Beijing

- Walter Sim

Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi speaking during a visit to Yonaguni, which has hosted a Ground Self-Defence Force base since 2016, on Nov 23. There, he confirmed plans to deploy an unspecified number of Type-03 Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile units were 'steadily moving forward'. PHOTO: BLOOMBERG

(BLOOMBERG)

Analysts argue that while there may be short-term economic pain from Chinese retaliation, such moves are necessary for Japan to guard against a more assertive China as the latter makes great strides on the military front.

The diplomatic winter was ignited by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s parliamentary remarks on Nov 7, when, in response to an opposition lawmaker’s question, she said that a Chinese attack on Taiwan involving a naval blockade could constitute a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan - implying that Tokyo could intervene militarily.

On Nov 23, Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi visited Yonaguni, which has hosted a Ground Self-Defence Force base since 2016. There, he confirmed that plans to deploy an unspecified number of Type-03 Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (Chu-SAM) units were “steadily moving forward”. The island is just 110km from Taiwan.

This raised hackles in Beijing, which one day later framed the plans as “extremely dangerous” and a deliberate attempt to “provoke military confrontation”. The same day, Japan scrambled fighter jets to intercept a suspected Chinese high-altitude surveillance drone flying near Yonaguni.

On Nov 25, Mr Koizumi reiterated how the Chu-SAM deployment “will help lower the chance of an armed attack on our country”, dismissing the view that doing so would escalate regional tensions as “not accurate”.