Overview
- Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said Japan is proceeding to base a medium‑range surface‑to‑air missile unit on Yonaguni, 110 kilometers from Taiwan.
- China lodged a formal protest at the United Nations, with ambassador Fu Cong warning that any Japanese armed intervention in the strait would constitute aggression and Wang Yi saying Japan crossed a red line.
- Foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning labeled the deployment extremely dangerous and said a rise in Japanese militarism would lead the region to disaster, while Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has not retracted her earlier remarks.
- Beijing expanded pressure with a renewed ban on Japanese seafood imports, suspended releases of Japanese films, and official travel advisories discouraging visits to Japan.
- Taiwan’s Vice Foreign Minister Francois Wu said Japan has the right to strengthen territorial defense given Yonaguni’s proximity, and U.S. forces in Okinawa held drills for rapid response.