Beware! Japan is Strengthening Pacific Defense, Aiming to Expand Military Power on Iwo Jima and Plan a No-Fly Zone in the Ogasawara Islands

[Global Times reporter Xing Xiaojing, Global Times special correspondent in Japan Chu Xin] The Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun reported exclusively on the 4th that in order to accelerate the advancement of its defense capabilities in the Pacific, the Japanese Ministry of Defense has finalized a plan to strengthen the functions of the Iwo Jima airbase and intends to establish an air defense identification zone (ADIZ) over the Ogasawara Islands. Relevant experts told Global Times reporters on the 4th that Japan aims to enhance its intervention and control capabilities regarding military situations in the Pacific region, and this confrontational approach will undoubtedly pose a serious threat to the security situation in the region, as well as indicating a dangerous trend of Japan reviving militarism.

The report cited several sources from the Ministry of Defense, stating that the ministry will initiate preparations in the new fiscal year to upgrade the port of Iwo Jima, strengthen the runway for aircraft, enhance the surveillance system, and discuss the establishment of a non-fixed pier for large vessels. Currently, about 250 members of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and about 100 members of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force are stationed on Iwo Jima, which has a runway approximately 2,650 meters long used by the U.S. military for carrier-based aircraft landing and takeoff training. Although Self-Defense Force fighter jets are not permanently stationed on the island, there are proposals to have them stationed there regularly.

The Japanese Ministry of Defense is also discussing the establishment of an air defense identification zone over the Ogasawara Islands. An air defense identification zone is an airspace designated by countries outside their territorial airspace. In Japan, once an aircraft that may infringe upon territorial airspace is confirmed to enter the ADIZ, Japan's Air Self-Defense Force fighter jets will, in principle, take off urgently to intercept and take appropriate measures.

However, Iwo Jima is characterized by active volcanic activity and significant ground uplift, leading to frequent cracks in the runway and fuel supply facilities. The extensive shallow coastal areas prevent large vessels from docking, compounded by harsh conditions such as high temperatures and volcanic gases, resulting in severe water resource shortages. Additionally, during the World War II Battle of Iwo Jima, the U.S. military inflicted heavy casualties on Japan, with many remains buried on the island, raising concerns about how to negotiate with the families of the deceased. A relevant official from the Japanese government stated, "Advancing preparations and turning it into a stronghold is not an easy task."

Establishing an air defense identification zone over the Ogasawara Islands means that the scope of Japan's air defense identification zone will be significantly expanded, and officials from the Self-Defense Forces are concerned about whether "such a vast airspace can be covered." In response, some Japanese netizens have questioned on social media, "The cost of implementing these measures is extremely high; how much taxpayer money will be squandered?" "Will people's livelihoods be sacrificed for military expansion?"

In the face of various doubts, Japanese media attribute these military movements to China, stating, "In light of China's active military activities, the Japanese government is accelerating the strengthening of its defense capabilities in the Pacific region," citing the simultaneous operations of two Chinese aircraft carriers in the Pacific in June 2025 as evidence. In fact, a spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already responded: "The activities of Chinese naval vessels in the relevant waters fully comply with international law and international practices. China consistently pursues a defensive national defense policy and hopes that Japan will view this objectively and rationally."

In contrast, Japan's ambitions in the Pacific region are already evident. The Japanese government plans to include "strengthening Pacific defense" as one of the core contents of the security policy documents to be revised this year.

The Ministry of Defense's "2026 Fiscal Year Budget Overview," released in August 2025, clearly states: plans to establish a Pacific Defense Concept Office (tentative name) to conduct specialized, cross-domain research on the Self-Defense Forces' system needed for the region. The Yomiuri Shimbun, in analyzing the purpose of the Ministry of Defense's measures to strengthen Pacific defense, stated that improving the Self-Defense Forces' "watchful eye" will directly enhance the deterrent power of the Japan-U.S. alliance.

"On one hand, Japan deliberately caters to the U.S. so-called 'Indo-Pacific Strategy,' willingly becoming a pawn and enforcer for the U.S., strengthening the containment of military developments against China; on the other hand, it also attempts to reshape Iwo Jima into a 'fortress of the second island chain,' seizing the opportunity to develop offensive military capabilities and construct an offensive military posture," military expert Zhang Junsha analyzed to Global Times reporters on the 4th. He stated that Japan's so-called defense is entirely a lie, as developing military capabilities over 1,000 kilometers away from its main island is not defensive in nature but a clear offensive forward deployment. In the future, it cannot be ruled out that radar positions and missile positions will be built to obstruct the naval vessels and aircraft of other countries, and through the first and second island chains, they will reach the deep sea and enter the Pacific.

The Asahi Shimbun stated that Japan's expansion of the air defense identification zone will inevitably have international repercussions and may lead to heightened military tensions between Japan and China. Zhang Junsha stated that using "external threats" as an excuse to cover up the true purpose of military expansion is a common tactic, and in recent years, Japan has also targeted China, attempting to use unfounded "threats" as a pretext to break through the constraints of the post-war pacifist constitution and the "defensive-only" policy, developing offensive military capabilities, which is essentially an attempt to revive militarism.