Japan to deploy missiles on island near Taiwan by 2031

BBC News - WorldEN 2 min read 100% complete February 25, 2026 at 04:30 AM

AI Summary

medium article 2 min

Japan plans to deploy surface-to-air missiles on Yonaguni Island, its westernmost island near Taiwan, by March 2031. The announcement, made by Japan's defense minister, comes amid rising tensions with China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory. Yonaguni is strategically located just 110km from Taiwan. This deployment, first announced in 2022, is intended to intercept incoming aircraft and missiles. The move follows recent actions by both countries, including export curbs imposed by China on Japanese companies and previous drone flights by China near the island. The deployment signals a potentially more assertive defense posture by Japan in the region.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Beijing ×340% United States 50% Shinjiro Koizumi ×360% Sanae Takaichi ×360% Yonaguni ×770% Taiwan ×680% China ×680% Japan ×1090%

Keywords

missile deployment 90% japan 80% taiwan 80% china 80% regional tensions 70% yonaguni island 70% surface-to-air missiles 60% military conflict 50% self-defense force 50% export curbs 40%