Japan showing ‘obvious offensive characteristics’ with new Okinawa missile unit, says Chinese military newspaper
- A new Japanese regiment equipped with advanced anti-ship missiles was established in the strategically vital Ryukyu island chain last month
- The official PLA Daily newspaper criticised the moving saying Tokyo was ‘increasingly deviating’ from the principles of its pacifist constitution
The Japanese Self-Defence Forces last month upgraded its missile defences by setting up the 7th Surface-to-Ship Missile Regiment, the first on the main island of the Ryukyu chain.
A commentary in the official military newspaper People’s Liberation Army Daily said the new regiment, which will supervise missile units already stationed in the island chain, would “further strengthen the defence and attack capabilities of Japan’s southwestern islands”.
It said this meant Japan “can block, or even attack rival ships entering and exiting various straits in the region, which demonstrates obvious offensive characteristics”.
It also warned that the regiment’s “combat capacity should not be underestimated”.
“[Tokyo’s] accelerated arms expansion is increasingly deviating from the principle of a ‘pacifist constitution’, bringing more uncertainty to regional and global security, and deserves higher awareness from neighbouring countries and the international community,” the commentary said.