Japan is pressing forward with a controversial plan to deploy missiles to a military base situated close to Taiwan, a move that has provoked an angry reaction from China, which accuses Tokyo of crossing a critical 'red line'.
Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi visited the Yonaguni island base on Sunday, 24 November 2025, reaffirming the government's commitment to reinforcing the region's defences. Yonaguni is Japan's westernmost island, located nearly 11km from Taiwan, placing it on a potential frontline.
Japan's Defence Justification
During his visit, Mr Koizumi stated that the missile deployment would lower the chance of an armed attack on Japan, directly countering the view that it heightens regional tensions. He met with the mayor of Yonaguni, Tsuneo Uechi, assuring him that details of the deployment would be shared with local authorities and residents once finalised.
"Today, Japan faces the most severe and complex security environment since the end of World War II," the defence minister declared, emphasising the necessity of strengthening defence capabilities to protect Japanese citizens.
China's Furious Reaction and Diplomatic Fallout
The decision has ignited a significant diplomatic crisis with Beijing. The situation was exacerbated earlier in November when Japan's new Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, suggested the possibility of deploying Japanese forces to defend Taiwan against a Chinese attack. China, which views Taiwan as a breakaway province, reacted sharply.
In a significant escalation, China's foreign minister, Wang Yi, publicly condemned Japan's actions on Sunday. "It is shocking that Japan’s current leaders have publicly sent the wrong signal of attempting military intervention in the Taiwan issue," he said, accusing Tokyo of saying things it should not have and crossing a red line.
Prior to this, on Friday, Beijing had lodged a formal complaint with the United Nations. In a letter to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, China's UN ambassador, Fu Cong, warned that any Japanese armed intervention in the Taiwan Strait would be considered "an act of aggression," affirming China's right to self-defence.
Japan's foreign ministry swiftly dismissed China's claims as 'entirely unacceptable', maintaining that Tokyo's commitment to peace remains steadfast.
Regional Implications and Historical Context
The planned deployment involves stationing medium-range surface-to-air missiles on Yonaguni, a key part of Japan's broader military build-up across its southern island chain. The island's strategic significance was highlighted in 2022 when a Chinese missile landed nearby during military drills simulating an encirclement of Taiwan.
The Ryukyu islands, of which Yonaguni is the endpoint, have a complex history as a former trade centre before being annexed by Japan in 1879. The current tensions have stoked fears among local residents about being drawn into a potential conflict over Taiwan.
When questioned about the impact of a Taiwan contingency on the island, Defence Minister Koizumi declined to comment, stating he would 'refrain from answering a question based on the assumption of a possible contingency over Taiwan'.
