JAPAN DEPLOYS LONG-RANGE MISSILES CAPABLE OF STRIKING CHINA
Japan is preparing to deploy upgraded Type-12 missiles with a range of roughly 1,000 km in Kyushu by the end of March.
The move would give Tokyo, for the first time in decades, the capability to strike military targets on the Chinese mainland if a conflict were to erupt.
Japanese officials say the deployment is part of a broader effort to strengthen deterrence amid rising tensions in East Asia, particularly around Taiwan and the East China Sea.
Beijing has sharply criticized the plan, warning it could undermine regional stability and escalate the arms race in the Pacific.
The shift reflects a major change in Japan’s defence posture as the security environment in Asia continues to harden.