Why Japan’s Type-12 missile deployment may complicate China’s regional strategy

Analysts say it could be interpreted as crossing a ‘strategic threshold’ and reinforce Beijing’s suspicions about Tokyo’s Taiwan intentions

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Japan’s upgraded Type-12 missile has a range of about 1,000km. Photo: AP

Published: 10:00am, 15 Mar 2026Updated: 8:45pm, 15 Mar 2026

Japan is deploying its domestically produced long-range missiles near the East China Sea – a move that could be interpreted by Beijing as crossing a “strategic threshold”, analysts say.

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said on Monday that the upgraded Type-12 surface-to-ship missiles would be deployed at Camp Kengun in the southwestern Japanese prefecture of Kumamoto by the end of this month.

Ground forces vehicles carrying the first batch of missile launchers were reportedly spotted arriving at Camp Kengun past midnight on Monday.

This follows the Japanese Ministry of Defence’s 2024 decision to advance the missile deployment schedule by one year. Growing military tensions with Beijing in the East China Sea near Taiwan have driven Tokyo to ramp up its military development.

Beijing views Taiwan as part of China, to be reunited by force if necessary. Most countries, including the US and its allies, do not recognise self-governed Taiwan as an independent state, but Washington is opposed to any forcible change to the status quo and is legally bound to supply Taipei with weapons for defence.

The upgraded Type-12 missile, developed and produced by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, has a range of about 1,000km (620 miles), extended from the original 200km.

Why Japan’s Type-12 missile deployment may complicate China’s regional strategy

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Analysts say it could be interpreted as crossing a ‘strategic threshold’ and reinforce Beijing’s suspicions about Tokyo’s Taiwan intentions

Analysts say it could be interpreted as crossing a ‘strategic threshold’ and reinforce Beijing’s suspicions about Tokyo’s Taiwan intentions