Japan to Develop Land-to-Sea Missiles to Defend Islands from Chinese Threat

You would think the Japanese would have done this long ago considering the territorial threat they are facing from China.  Adding these missile systems will make the Chinese think twice about any military adventurism that will cost them many ships plus it complicates enemy targeting:

Japan has decided to develop and deploy a land-to-sea missile system designed to enhance defense in the East China Sea at the same time it is embroiled in a tense standoff with China over the disputed Senkaku island chain, according to Japanese media reports.

Vehicle-mounted, GPS-guided missiles with a range of about 186 miles will be deployed to major southern islands such as Miyako in Okinawa Prefecture, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported Sunday, citing unnamed sources, which is customary in Japan. The system’s cost will be proposed in the fiscal 2017 defense budget request slated for release in mid-September.

The Ministry of Defense, which would not deny the move to procure the system when reached Monday, aims to deploy the missiles around 2023.  [Stars & Stripes]

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