Japan’s Counterstrike Capabilities Enter Operational Phase with Deployment of Long-Range Standoff Missiles to Deter China, North Korea

By Shinsuke Yasuda and Masashi Yamaguchi / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writers

20:00 JST, April 1, 2026

The deployment of long-range standoff missiles, capable of being launched from outside an enemy’s range, for the first time within Japan means the nation’s “counterstrike capabilities” proclaimed by the government have entered the operational phase.

The aim is to deter China and North Korea, both of which are strengthening their military capabilities, from launching attacks.

Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi emphasized the significance of the missile deployment at a press conference following a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

“[The deployment] will enable Japan to respond from outside the threat zone of enemy forces attempting to invade, while ensuring the safety of Self-Defense Forces personnel,” he said.

All of the missiles deployed on Tuesday are produced domestically. Type-25 surface-to-ship guided missiles at the Ground Self-Defense Force’s Camp Kengun in Kumamoto Prefecture have a range exceeding 1,000 kilometers — more than five times that of conventional models.

Type-25 high velocity gliding projectiles at Camp Fuji in Shizuoka Prefecture are designed to attack vessels attempting to invade Japan’s island territories. Their range of several hundred kilometers will reportedly be extended in the future.

The government intends to deploy Type-25 high velocity gliding projectiles at Camp Ebino in Miyazaki Prefecture and other locations in fiscal 2026, and to deploy long-range missiles in Oita and Okinawa prefectures over the next few years.

In addition, operations will begin around September this year for Aegis destroyers equipped with the U.S.-made Tomahawk cruise missiles that have a range of more than 1,600 kilometers. Also, U.S.-made missiles such as the JASSM-ER missiles, which have a range of about 900 kilometers, will be deployed on fighter jets. The plan is to enhance the effectiveness of counterstrikes through a multilayered defense system utilizing a diverse array of missiles.

Effectiveness

China and North Korea are advancing the development and deployment of hypersonic weapons that fly at high speeds and travel on irregular trajectories, and the limitations of conventional interception systems, such as those on Aegis destroyers, have been pointed out.

The government’s decision to deploy standoff missiles stems from its judgment that a strategy of striking an enemy’s launch sites to cut off the source of the threat is effective.

Another factor is the relative decline in U.S. dominance in East Asia due to China’s military rise.

The possession of counterstrike capabilities was incorporated into the “National Security Strategy” that was revised in 2022. Opposition parties voiced objections, arguing that the change “contradicts the principle of Japan’s exclusive defense policy.”

A senior Defense Ministry official explained that “it offers an overwhelming advantage compared to a response that merely defends against incoming missiles.”

“Targeting” — the process of pinpointing an enemy’s location — is essential for the operation of standoff missiles.

The government plans to establish a “satellite constellation” — a network of numerous small satellites operating in an integrated manner to track targets even as they move — by the end of March 2028.

It also intends to strengthen cooperation with the U.S. military, which possesses advanced intelligence-gathering capabilities.

During a tabletop exercise conducted by the SDF and the U.S. military from January to February, procedures for launching standoff missiles were confirmed.

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China Calls Japan’s Missile Deployment ‘New Militarism,’ Steps Up Economic and PR Pressure

By Keiichiro Azuma / Yomiuri Shimbun Correspondent

BEIJING — China remains on high alert, viewing the Self-Defense Forces’ long-range missiles as a threat to its national security. Along with the defense policies of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s administration, such as revision of three key security documents, China collectively labels these moves as “new militarism” and its officials have made statements to promote its claims to the international community.

In particular, China strongly opposes deployment of Type 25 surface-to-ship guided missiles at the Ground Self-Defense Force’s Camp Kengun in Kumamoto Prefecture. Given that the missiles have a stated range sufficient to reach coastal areas of mainland China, the Chinese defense ministry strongly accuses Japan of having completely abandoned its exclusively defense-oriented posture.

China is also wary of Japan’s plan to deploy missiles to locations including Yonaguni Island in Okinawa Prefecture. The remote island is near Taiwan, which China claims is under its jurisdiction. In March, Li Yihu, dean of the Taiwan Research Institute at Peking University, referred to Takaichi’s Diet statement regarding a possible Taiwan contingency and said, “Japan’s intention to militarily intervene in a Taiwan Strait conflict was so obvious that China had no choice but to be vigilant.”

Beijing criticizes Japan not only for the missile deployment but also for other moves such as the increased defense budget and constitutional amendment attempts, collectively calling them “re-militarization” and “new militarism.” Mentioning that an SDF officer intruded at the Chinese Embassy in Japan in late March, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Tuesday, “This incident shows how toxic and dangerous the right-wing ideology and distorted view of history could be in Japan.”

In February, the Chinese government banned the export of dual-use items to subsidiaries of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. and Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd., both involved in the defense industry, aiming to curb Japan’s supposed remilitarization and nuclear ambitions. In addition to its public relations efforts, China is apparently trying to prevent Japan from strengthening its defense capabilities by putting economic pressure on it.