On October 2, the Japanese newspaper Kyodo News reported that the U.S. military would deploy the latest anti-ship missile system, NMESIS, on Wakanō Island in Okinawa Prefecture during the Japan-U.S. joint military exercise "Rising Sword" this month. This will be the first time NMESIS has been deployed on Wakanō Island, and no actual launch will take place at that time.
Reports suggest that this move may aim to contain China, or potentially stimulate China’s actions.
In July last year, the U.S. military deployed NMESIS for the first time in Okinawa, and it was used in training at Hansen Barracks (located in Kinmura and other areas). During the joint training exercise "Steadfast Dragon" between the U.S. military and the Japan Self-Defense Forces in September of that year, the system was also deployed at the Self-Defense Forces' base on Ishigaki Island in Okinawa.
The picture shows the U.S. military’s anti-ship missile launch device, “NMESIS”. Japan’s Kyodo News.
Bloomberg also reported on the same day that the US military plans to deploy advanced anti-ship missile systems on Japanese islands near Taiwan, China, during a major training exercise later this month. This move could trigger anger from the Chinese side.
According to reports, Okinawa Island is located only 110 kilometers east of Taiwan Island. It is Japan’s closest location to Taiwan Island. If Japan deploys missile systems and other equipment (such as electronic warfare vehicles) to Okinawa Island for training, it will mark a higher level of military exercises conducted on that island than in the past.
In April this year, the mayor of Tomioka Town in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, also met with Japan's Defense Minister Shinzo Abe and expressed agreement to the plan for the Defense Ministry to deploy anti-aircraft missile units in Tomioka Town.
In response to this, Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that China is highly concerned about these developments. Under the pretext of 'defense' and 'counterattack', Japan has strengthened the deployment of missiles and other offensive weapons in areas adjacent to China. In reality, this is an attempt to create military strongholds that threaten regional peace and stability.
"We urge the Japanese government to deeply reflect on its imperialist aggression in history, upholding commitments in the field of military security while being cautious and tactful. The international community must be highly vigilant and resolutely curb Japan's accelerating militarization and the emergence of a new form of imperialism." Guo Jia Kun said.
