By Focus and AFP | 2026-04-01

TOKYO -- Japan has deployed long-range missiles capable of striking enemy bases for the first time, marking a significant step in its acquisition of counterstrike capabilities as Tokyo recalibrates its defense posture.

On March 31, the Defense Ministry announced the deployment of the Type 25 land-based antiship missile (formerly the upgraded Type-12) to Kumamoto's Kengun Garrison, and the Type 25 high-speed glide missile to Shizuoka's Fuji Garrison.

"Standoff defense capabilities enable us to counter the threat of enemy forces attempting to invade our country while ensuring the safety of our personnel," Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said.

"This is an initiative of paramount importance for strengthening Japan's deterrence and response capabilities, as the country faces the most severe and complex security environment since the end of World War II," he told a news conference March 31.

The deployments underscore a departure from Japan's long-standing interpretation of its pacifist constitution, which had limited the military to strictly defensive roles. They introduce capabilities designed to strike adversary targets if necessary.

The Type 25 missile system has a range of about 1,000km, putting parts of the Chinese mainland within reach -- Shanghai lies about 900km from Kumamoto. From the Kyushu base, the system's coverage also extends to the majority of North Korea and much of the East China Sea, including waters northeast of Taiwan.

The rollout comes as Chinese forces intensify operations around Japan's southwestern islands near Taiwan and expand activity deeper into the Pacific. China is estimated to field roughly 2,000 ground-launched missiles with ranges between 1,000 and 5,500km, far exceeding Japanese and US inventories in the region.

Defense shift

Japan in recent years has accelerated military modernization as China, Russia and North Korea expand their capabilities. In 2022, Tokyo approved a strategic shift allowing for counterstrike capabilities, defined as the ability to target enemy missile launch sites and other critical assets.

A defense white paper last year said reliance solely on missile defense systems would be insufficient against increasingly advanced threats. The paper cited the need for standoff strike options.

The current deployments are part of a broader, phased buildup. In fiscal 2026, additional high-speed glide missile units will arrive in Hokkaido and Miyazaki, with plans to extend their range to 2,000km.

By fiscal 2027, sea- and air-launched Type 25 variants will enter service early. These include deployments aboard a refitted destroyer in Yokosuka and integration with aircraft at Hyakuri Air Base.

Meanwhile, Japan's maritime and air forces are accelerating long-range strike capabilities. The Maritime Self-Defense Force has upgraded Aegis destroyers to carry US-made Tomahawk cruise missiles, with operational deployment expected around September following overseas testing, NHK reported.

The Air Self-Defense Force is introducing the Norwegian-made Joint Strike Missile and preparing to integrate it with its F-35A fleet.

The deployments come as tensions between Japan and China have worsened amid disputes over the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea and growing concern in Tokyo over Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory.

These deployments reflect a strategic recalibration following Japan's 2022 defense revisions. The Defense Ministry accelerated its original timeline by one year, fast-tracking the positioning of long-range batteries in the southwestern islands as a direct response to Chinese military activity.