Japan fires missiles during drills, drawing China rebuke

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TOKYO: Japan launched surface-to-ship missiles and sank a retired warship during major military exercises in the South China Sea, drawing a sharp rebuke from Beijing. The drill, part of the 19-day ‘Balikatan’ exercises, involved 17,000 personnel and included Japanese combat troops for the first time.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has rapidly shifted Tokyo away from its post-WWII pacifist stance, pursuing a more muscular defense policy with U.S. support.

The firing of two Type-88 missiles occurred just 400 kilometers from Taiwan, an area central to escalating regional tensions.

China condemned the test as a push for ‘accelerated remilitarization,’ criticizing Japan for failing to reflect on its historical role as an aggressor. Relations have soured further following Takaichi’s recent suggestion that Japan might intervene militarily if China attempts to annex Taiwan.

Photo Credits: AFP