In a move that has drawn anger and concern from China and Russia, the United States is coordinating with Japan the deployment of advanced missile systems to the Nansei Islands near Taiwan. The plan, expected to be finalized by December, involves deploying High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and other weapons to bolster Taiwan’s defense capabilities against a possible Chinese invasion. The Nansei Islands extend from Japan up to 200 kilometers from Taiwan and include Okinawa, where the United States has a significant military presence.
This joint military operation between the United States and Japan marks the first time they have actively prepared for a potential conflict between Taiwan and China. As part of the plan, a HIMARS-equipped U.S. Marine Corps regiment will be deployed to temporary bases on the Nansei Islands. The Japan Self-Defense Forces will provide logistical support, including fuel and ammunition.
Unsurprisingly, China has strongly criticized this development. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson expressed opposition to “relevant countries’ use of the Taiwan issue as a pretext to strengthen military deployment in the region.” » They further stressed that such actions would increase tensions, disrupt regional peace and stability. Russia also expressed concerns over the joint plan, warning that it would respond with necessary measures to strengthen its own defense capabilities.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that if medium-range missiles were deployed on Japanese territory as a result of this cooperation, it would pose a real threat to Russian security. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov even suggested that Moscow could consider stationing shorter and intermediate range missiles in Asia in response.
The reasons behind these developments partly lie in Russia’s previous declaration that Taiwan is part of China while expressing support for China’s military exercises near the island. This aligns with their closer partnership and cooperation in recent years. Additionally, the United States has accused China of supporting Russia’s aggression in Ukraine by facilitating its defense industry.
While China and Russia have expressed concerns, experts argue that the primary goal of deploying HIMARS to the Nansei Islands is to protect Taiwan from possible Chinese naval threats. Michael O’Hanlon, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, emphasized that HIMARS would primarily serve as an anti-ship capability to protect Taiwan and its base.
Admiral Samuel Paparo, commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, recently warned about China’s full-scale rehearsal of an invasion of Taiwan involving 152 ships. He stressed the importance of being prepared for such a scenario. With China possessing the largest naval force in the world and the United States seeking to counterbalance this, deploying HIMARS to the Nansei Islands could help neutralize possible amphibious landing ships and destroyers approaching Taiwan from the north.
Experts also draw parallels with Ukraine, where HIMARS have been successfully deployed against Russian forces. Timothy Heath of RAND Corp. stressed that these weapons systems demonstrate that the United States and its allies are learning lessons from previous conflicts. The plan also includes deploying long-range firing units to the Philippines through the Multi-Domain Task Force (MDTS), thereby increasing pressure on China.
The deployment of HIMARS to the Nansei Islands and long-range fire units to the Philippines presents significant challenges for China. Ryo Hinata-Yamaguchi, associate professor at the Institute of International Strategy at Tokyo International University, believes these locations are crucial not only to deter China’s aggressive actions in East Asia, but also to counter Beijing’s ambitions in the Pacific region. However, he predicts that China will respond by strengthening its military preparedness and engaging in more assertive activities in response.
As tensions rise between China and Japan over territorial disputes in the Taiwan Strait and the East China Sea, it is crucial to consider how these developments fit into broader geopolitical dynamics. The United States Secretary of Defense recently concluded a trip to the Indo-Pacific region, where discussions were held with Japan, the Philippines, Australia and South Korea. This visit resulted in increased participation in trilateral amphibious training exercises and closer intelligence sharing agreements.
The joint U.S.-Japan missile plan serves as a clear indication of growing concerns about China’s assertiveness in the region. As geopolitical tensions continue to evolve, it remains to be seen how China and Russia will respond to these developments and what impact they will have on regional stability.
