Japan Deploys Missiles Near Taiwan, Escalating Crisis with China

The Japanese government announced on Sunday that they will deploy missiles on an island near Taiwan, leading to strong condemnation from China on Monday, deepening the diplomatic crisis between the two countries. Japan’s Defense Minister, Shinjiro Koizumi, stated that the country is ‘steadily advancing its preparations’ to deploy a unit of medium-range surface-to-air guided missiles at the Yonaguni Base, an island located about 110 km east of Taiwan. This announcement came shortly after Japan scrambled fighter jets when China flew a drone between Taiwan and Yonaguni.
The Chinese government accused Japan of deliberately ‘creating regional tension and provoking military confrontation’ by planning to deploy missiles on the island. According to spokesperson Mao Ning of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, ‘Sending offensive weapons by Japan to the Southwest Islands near the Chinese region of Taiwan is a deliberate action that fuels regional tensions and provokes military confrontation. Given the misleading statements by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding Taiwan, this move is extremely dangerous and should raise maximum alert among Japan’s neighboring countries and the international community.’
Japan and China have entered their worst diplomatic crisis in years, which started when Japan’s new Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, stated earlier this month that a hypothetical Chinese attack on Taiwan would represent a ‘survival-threatening situation,’ thus could trigger a military response from Tokyo. The China considers Taiwan—a separatist island with its own democratic government—as part of its territory and does not rule out the use of force to take control of the territory. Taiwan rejects Beijing’s claims and asserts that only its people can decide the island’s future.
The Chinese government demanded that Takaichi retract her statements on Taiwan, but this did not occur. Japan attempted to ease tensions by seeking a reconciliation with Beijing; however, the actions taken by the new premier’s government have been moving in the opposite direction. ‘Right-wing provocateurs in Japan are leading Japan and the region to disaster,’ said Mao Ning. She added that China ‘is determined and capable of safeguarding its national territorial sovereignty.’
To fully comprehend the escalation of tensions between China and Japan, let us take a look at the following timeline: October 31 – China’s President Xi Jinping met with Sanae Takaichi, who was elected a few days prior on October 21. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea. Both agreed to pursue constructive and stable relations. November 1 – China strongly protested against Takaichi’s social media posts about her meeting with Taiwanese authorities during the APEC summit. November 3 – A Taiwan government official rebuffed Chinese protests, describing the meeting with Takaichi as ‘very normal.’ November 7 – Takaichi told Parliament that an attack on Taiwan could be considered ‘a situation threatening Japan’s survival,’ a legal term that allows prime ministers to mobilize the country’s Self-Defense Forces. This was just another in a series of controversial statements and missteps by the premier.
November 8 – In a now-deleted social media comment, the Chinese Consul General Xue Jian in the Japanese city of Osaka said: ‘A dirty head that sticks its nose where it shouldn’t be cut off.’ This was in reference to Takaichi’s statements about Taiwan. November 10 – China lodged solemn representations and strong protests against Takaichi’s comments. She clarified that she was speaking in ‘hypothetical’ situations and promised to refrain from making similar remarks in Parliament again. Japan criticized the Chinese diplomat’s ‘extremely inappropriate’ comment, while Beijing defended its envoy’s ‘personal post’ as a response to the premier’s ‘misguided and dangerous’ statements.