Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi announced plans to deploy medium-range surface-to-air missiles to Yonaguni Island in Okinawa Prefecture by fiscal 2030. The island is just 110 kilometers east of Taiwan, and the timing could shift based on facility improvements.
Japan's government plans to station a medium-range surface-to-air missile unit on Yonaguni Island, Okinawa Prefecture, by fiscal 2030. Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi revealed this during a regular news conference on Tuesday.
"Currently, we are proceeding with necessary tasks, such as basic studies concerning facility improvements for the deployment of troops to the eastern side of the garrison," Koizumi said.
The island lies 110 kilometers east of Taiwan, an area where activities by China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) have intensified. However, Koizumi added a caveat: "The timing for the deployment of the medium-range surface-to-air unit may change depending on the progress of future facility improvements, but the current plan is for fiscal year 2030."
The Defense Ministry is in the early stages of preparations, with the schedule dependent on facility upgrades. This move is part of bolstering the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) posture.
