Japanese Defense Minister Koizumi Shinjiro has rebutted China’s criticism of new missile units to be deployed on Yonagunijima island, in Okinawa Prefecture.
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said in a news conference on Monday that the deployment is a “deliberate move that breeds regional tensions and stokes military confrontation.”
Koizumi told reporters after Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting that the purpose of deploying medium-range surface-to-air missile units on Yonagunijima is to defend Japan from encroaching aircraft and missiles.
He stressed that the missiles will not be used to attack other countries, and added it is clear that they do not heighten regional tensions as they are already deployed across Japan.
Koizumi said he will continue efforts to make clear to other countries that Japan’s buildup of its defense capabilities will be based on its defense-only policy and will not change Japan’s stance as a peaceful state.
AloJapan.com