Japan has deployed its first long-range missile at a southwestern army camp as part of efforts to strengthen its offensive military capabilities. The upgraded Type-12 land-to-ship missiles, developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, are now operational at Camp Kengun in Kumamoto prefecture. Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said the deployment is a critical step in enhancing Japan’s deterrence and responsiveness amid what he called the country’s most severe postwar security environment.
The Type-12 missiles have a range of about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles), a major increase from the 200-kilometer (125-mile) range of the original model, giving Japan the ability to strike enemy missile bases from a distance. This “standoff” capability marks a shift from Japan’s traditional self-defense-only military policy. Residents near Camp Kengun protested the deployment, expressing concerns that it could escalate regional tensions and make their area a target. On the same day, Japan also deployed a hypersonic glide vehicle to Camp Fuji in Shizuoka prefecture, with plans to station additional Type-12 missiles and glide vehicles at locations including Hokkaido and Miyazaki by 2028. Japan also intends to deploy U.S.-made Tomahawk cruise missiles on its destroyers later this year to further bolster its strike-back and coastal defense capabilities.
Japan has increasingly viewed China as its primary regional security threat and has fortified its southwestern islands near the East China Sea. In December, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s Cabinet approved a record defense budget exceeding 9 trillion yen ($58 billion) for the upcoming fiscal year, focusing on missile systems and unmanned arsenals. Concerns about Chinese military activity have grown after two Chinese aircraft carriers operated near remote Japanese islands last June. The Japanese Defense Ministry recently announced a new office dedicated to monitoring China’s Pacific operations, and tensions have risen further after Takaichi stated that Chinese military action against Taiwan could trigger a Japanese military response.
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