Japan’s Kyushu Missile Deployment Plan Draws Strong Warning from China
Japan’s Ministry of Defense is moving ahead with plans to deploy an upgraded version of the Type-12 surface-to-ship missile system in Kyushu by March 2026, a move that has triggered sharp criticism from China. The system, originally designed for coastal defense, has now been enhanced with a much greater range—estimated at up to 1,000 kilometers—bringing parts of China’s coastline, Taiwan Strait, and even North Korea within potential striking distance.
The deployment, which will begin at Camp Kengun in Kumamoto Prefecture, was initially scheduled for 2027 but has been fast-tracked by one year. Another training unit is planned at Camp Fuji in Shizuoka during fiscal year 2027. These plans are part of Japan’s record defense budget request of 8.85 trillion yen (around $60 billion) for fiscal year 2026, reflecting the government’s push to raise defense spending to 2% of GDP by 2027.
China’s Strong Objection
On September 10, Senior Colonel Jiang Bin, spokesperson for China’s Ministry of National Defense, issued a direct warning. He accused Tokyo of pursuing “military expansion far beyond the scope of exclusive self-defense” and criticized the development of “offensive weapons systems” that threaten regional stability.
Jiang linked the move to historical grievances, noting the recent 80th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. He argued that Japan’s current trajectory echoes dangerous patterns of militarism and urged Tokyo to “earnestly reflect on its history of aggression” while respecting the security concerns of neighboring countries.
Strategic Implications
The upgraded Type-12 missile is a cornerstone of Japan’s evolving “counterstrike” strategy, which also includes the planned deployment of U.S.-made Tomahawk cruise missiles, new unmanned systems, and expanded naval modernization programs. Together, these capabilities are designed to deter China’s growing maritime assertiveness around the East China Sea and the disputed Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands.
However, the move also raises fears of an escalating regional arms race. Japan justifies the deployment as a necessary step to strengthen deterrence in the face of China’s rapid military buildup and North Korea’s advancing missile programs. Beijing, meanwhile, sees it as a destabilizing shift away from Japan’s long-standing post-war commitment to defensive policy.
With the first batteries set to arrive in Kyushu within 18 months, Japan is signaling a more proactive military posture. The decision underscores Tokyo’s determination to transform its Self-Defense Forces into a force capable of long-range precision strikes, while also testing the already tense balance of power in East Asia.
China’s stern rebuke suggests that diplomatic tensions will rise further as the deployment date approaches, adding to a climate of uncertainty across the region.
