Japan To Buy Missiles That Can Hit China, Russia

Japan will deploy missiles that can strike bases in China, Russia and North Korea in its biggest military build-up since World War II, Nick Allen reported for The Telegraph.

Photo Insert: The decision is a turning point in the history of the pacifist country.

Tokyo’s development of “counterstrike” capability was a response to what it called the “unprecedented strategic challenge” of China. Fumio Kishida, the Japanese prime minister, said it was a “turning point in history” for the pacifist country, and a “new heading for Japan.”

The $320- billion plan will see Japan become the world’s third biggest military spender, after the United States and China. It was part of a wide-ranging new national security strategy, the first since 2013, under which it will double defense spending to two percent of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2027.

The shift came amid fears China may attack Taiwan, threatening nearby Japanese islands, disrupting supplies of semiconductors, and impacting imports of oil arriving from the Middle East.

Japan’s military is currently armed with missiles that can only fly a few hundred kilometers. Japan will buy hundreds of ship-launched, US-made Tomahawk missiles. They can fly 1,250km (780 miles) and hit naval bases on the east coasts of China and Russia.

Tokyo will also extend the range of its ground-launched Type 12 anti-ship missiles over the next five years.

Around $7 billion will be spent on defending against possible Chinese cyber attacks, including setting up a 20,000-strong cyber unit. Another $7 billion will be invested in space capabilities, and $6 billion on its development of new fighter jets with the UK and Italy.

Japan has already disclosed plans to develop its own hypersonic weapons in the coming years. Under the new strategy it will build over 100 munitions depots by 2035. The main threat is seen as coming from China along Japan’s southwestern island chain.

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