Video: Japan's Ministry of Defense Plans to Deploy Air Defense Missile Units in Yonaguni Town

The mayor of Yonaguni Town in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, stated on the 13th that he agrees with the plan proposed by the Japanese Ministry of Defense to deploy air defense missile units in Yonaguni Town.

On the 13th, the mayor of Yonaguni Town, Kamei Tsuneo, met with Defense Minister Kōzuki Shinjirō, and Kamei Tsuneo expressed that "he has exchanged opinions with the residents and councilors of Yonaguni Town and agrees with the Ministry of Defense's plan to deploy air defense missile units in Yonaguni Town." The Ministry of Defense plans to deploy the Type 03 medium-range air defense missile at the Ground Self-Defense Force base in Yonaguni by the fiscal year 2030, with the aim of intercepting incoming missiles or aircraft.

Yonaguni Island is located at the westernmost end of the Ryukyu Islands and is administratively part of Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. The Ground Self-Defense Force base in Yonaguni was established in March 2016. The current number of personnel is about 230, and it is expected to increase to about 370 after the missile unit is fully deployed by 2030.

The deployment of the Type 03 missile is actually to cover offensive weapons

Military observer Wei Dongxu: The Type 03 is a medium-range air defense missile that is deployed on vehicles, with six missiles on the launch vehicle. Its range is several dozen kilometers, and the improved version can reach a maximum range of about 100 kilometers. The deployment in Yonaguni Island is not for defensive needs, but to cover the offensive weapons deployed on the surrounding islands. Because the Japan Self-Defense Forces, especially the Ground Self-Defense Force, have already regarded the southwestern islands as island bases, and will deploy long-range Type 12 anti-ship missile improvements on relevant islands, including high-speed glide bombs developed by Japan for island defense, which are hypersonic missiles. Therefore, these long-range missile systems with offensive attributes must have corresponding air defense firepower to cover them.

Military observer Wei Dongxu: The deployment of the Type 03 medium-range air defense missile on Yonaguni Island will provide cover and support for its naval and air forces, as well as for its island seizure operations. This indicates that Japan has very clear military ambitions towards the southwest direction, which is a dangerous action for regional peace and stability, and sends a provocative signal.

This move by Japan will only "backfire"

Military observer Wei Dongxu: Once Japan uses the forces on the southwestern islands to carry out military provocations, it will definitely face fire suppression and a fierce counterattack. The Type 03 medium-range missile is a relatively old air defense weapon, and its technology is not advanced; even its extended-range version only allows it to shoot farther and higher.

Military observer Wei Dongxu: It lacks precise targeting and interception capabilities against stealth targets and hypersonic missiles. Therefore, once the position is destroyed, the relevant Type 03 medium-range air defense missile launch units may find themselves in a sea of fire. Moreover, it is also unable to provide cover for other offensive forces, especially those involved in island seizure operations. So if Japan provokes in the southwest direction, especially with so-called preemptive actions, it will ultimately backfire on itself.