Japan on June 24 tested a surface-to-ship missile with a range of 62 miles off the island of Hokkaido.
Tokyo: Amid geopolitical tensions, Japan has tested a missile in its territory for the first time in 80 years. According to reports, the Japanese army is strengthening its military infrastructure in view of the threat from China and Russia. Japan has conducted previous missile tests in partnership with the US (a treaty ally) and Australia.
Japan on June 24 tested a Type 88 surface-to-ship and short-range missile at the Shijunai anti-air firing range on its northernmost main island of Hokkaido, reports AP news agency. The Ground Self-Defense Force’s 1st Artillery Brigade used a training missile to target an unmanned boat about 40 kilometers (24 miles) off the island’s southern coast.
The Japanese military said the missile test was successful and Japan plans to conduct another test by Sunday.
Japan’s first domestic missile test is seen as an effort to move toward a more self-reliant military capability and to gain counter-attack capability to deter China’s increasingly aggressive naval activity in its regional seas.
Japan is also concerned by growing joint military exercises between China and Russia around Japanese coasts. Japan and Russia (which is Hokkaido’s northern neighbor) have territorial disputes.
Japanese people protested against missile testing.
Meanwhile, Japanese people protested against missile testing by the country’s army. According to media reports, dozens of protesters gathered outside a neighboring army camp and protested. They said that missile tests only increase tensions in Asia and increase the risk of Japan being involved in potential conflicts.
Change in self-defense policy
Since World War II, Japan, under its pacifist constitution, limited the use of force to self-defense only, but in 2022 it made a major change to this policy when it adopted a five-year security strategy that identified China as its biggest strategic challenge and called for a closer Japan-US alliance.
Japan to deploy cruise missiles
Japan is currently working to deploy long-range cruise missiles into its military, including Tomahawks purchased from the US. Japan is also building Type 12 surface-to-ship missiles, which have a range of about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles), 10 times that of the Type 88.
The truck-mounted Type 88 guided missile developed by Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has a range of about 100 kilometres (62 mi).
Japan is also preparing to build a missile-firing range on Minamitorishima, the country’s easternmost island in the western Pacific, which is a desolate area and has no human population. Two Chinese aircraft carriers were spotted together in this area for the first time earlier this month.