Japan to deploy missiles to island near Taiwan by 2031, says defence minister

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.