JAPAN REBUILDS IT'S MILITARY AMID RISING THREAT FROM COMMUNIST CHINA

Japan continues to enhance its military capabilities amid threats from China, having begun to mass-produce long-range missiles launched from submarines and warships. The Chinese Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Why It Matters Under an island chain strategy, Japan forms part of two north-south defensive lines in the Western Pacific, designed to project military power to deter and defend against regional aggression by United States adversaries using American and allied territories. Facing China‘s military buildup for a potential invasion of Taiwan near Japan’s outlying islands, Tokyo has strengthened its counterstrike and standoff defense capabilities to strike enemy territory and defeat invading forces from a distance beyond their defenses. Long-range missiles are critical to achieving these capabilities. Japan has acquired the Tomahawk cruise missile from the U.S. and developed the upgraded Type 12 anti-ship missile and the Hyper Velocity Gliding Projectile ballistic missile for island defense. What To Know Japan’s Defense Ministry announced on Tuesday that it has issued contracts for the mass production of two types of standoff missiles: the ship-launched upgraded Type 12 missile and an unknown missile designed to be launched from submarine torpedo tubes. Both contracts were awarded to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, which has produced a wide range of military hardware for Japan. The contract for the submarine-launched missile was concluded on September 1 and the one for the Type 12 missile on Monday. Japan is working toward the early acquisition of domestically produced missiles to strengthen its standoff defense, the Defense Ministry said in a press release, adding that the capability can intercept and eliminate invading forces quickly and at long range. According to the defense outlet Naval News, the original Type 12 missile has a range of 124 miles, extending to at least 559 miles after the upgrade. The upgraded version is expected eventually to be capable of striking enemy naval ships up to 745 miles away. Details about the submarine-launched missile remain unclear, including its intended targets. The Taigei-class attack submarine, the newest class in the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, is capable of firing Harpoon anti-ship missiles, Naval News reported. Meanwhile, the Tomahawk cruise missile acquired by Japan, with a range of 1,000 miles, can be launched from ships and submarines. Both the U.S. and the United Kingdom have submarines equipped to fire this type of missiles from torpedo tubes. What People Are Saying Japan’s Defense Ministry said in a press release on Tuesday: “We will continue to promote the acquisition of various standoff missiles in accordance with the National Defense Program, and work to quickly build our standoff defense capabilities.” Japan’s defense white paper 2025 commented: “The existing order of world peace is being seriously challenged, and Japan finds itself in the most severe and complex security environment of the postwar era. China has been swiftly increasing its national defense expenditures, thereby extensively and rapidly enhancing its military capability in a qualitative and quantitative manner and intensifying its activities in the East China Sea, including around the Senkaku Islands, and the Pacific.” Lin Jian, spokesperson for China’s ​Foreign Ministry, said at a press conference on September 16: “Due to its history of militarist aggression, Japan’s military and security moves always draw close attention from its Asian neighbors and the international community … We urge Japan to take a hard look at its history of aggression, follow the path of peaceful development, and act prudently in military and security areas, instead of assisting villainous acts and further losing the trust of its Asian neighbors and undermining regional peace and stability.” What Happens Next It remains to be seen whether Japan will develop additional long-range missiles or acquire more weapons from the U.S. amid China’s rapidly growing military power. Hon Brian Scavo