Tokyo is fortifying the Ryukyu island chain with a surge in military assets, signaling a major shift from its postwar defense posture as tensions near the Taiwan region intensify.
Under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Japan has rapidly moved to reinterpret its pacifist constitution, with right-wing lawmakers advocating for a more assertive defense strategy and even pre-emptive capabilities.
On November 23, 2025, Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi toured Self-Defense Forces units on Ishigaki and Yonaguni islands, the latter just 110 kilometers from the Taiwan region. He highlighted the swift deployment of the Type-03 medium-range surface-to-air missile system on Yonaguni—a key element of Tokyo’s integrated air defense, anti-ship and electronic warfare network stretching across the southwest islands.
Despite official optimism, residents on Yonaguni have voiced strong opposition. They warn that missile deployments could turn their island into a frontline target rather than enhancing local security.
Japan’s southwest pivot began in 2010, when defense priorities shifted towards mobility and rapid response in the Ryukyu Islands. Since then, new bases housing anti-air and anti-ship missile units have opened on Amami Oshima and Miyako, and a coastal surveillance unit was set up on Yonaguni in 2016. In 2022, the National Defence Strategy redefined 'counterstrike capability' to include pre-emptive operations against potential threats.
Recent milestones include the 2023 opening of a new base on Ishigaki. By March 2026, the Type-03 missile deployment on Yonaguni is scheduled for completion, and by 2027, Okinawa’s 15th Brigade will be upgraded to a 4,000-strong division with a new mandate for active island operations.
Evidence of Japan’s expanding strike profile emerged in a recent sea test of an electromagnetic railgun, demonstrating a shift toward longer-range offensive roles beyond traditional defense.
Meanwhile, Tokyo is allocating part of its budget to boost 'security resilience', including upgrades to dual-use ports, expanded wartime legal frameworks for prisoner handling, and research into universal plasma, according to China Media Group on the Chinese mainland.
Authorities on the Chinese mainland have criticized Japan’s easing of self-imposed defense constraints and its decade-long rise in defense spending, warning that these developments could destabilize regional security.
Reference(s):
Japan presses ahead with military expansion near China's Taiwan
cgtn.com
