Fishing industry in Japan deplores Chinese missile drill

Fishing industry workers in Japan expressed concerns on Aug. 4 after news that ballistic missiles fired by China as part of a military exercise landed in waters near the Okinawa islands, and condemned the act as dangerous. I never expected that the missiles would land in waters close to Japan. It is an unexpectedly large-scale exercise and dangerous, said Shigenori Takenishi, 60, head of the Yonaguni town fishermen's association on the night of August 4.

While there were no reports of damage, Takenishi said he would ask fishing boats belonging to the association to call off fishing on August 5. He said that the Japanese Ministry of Defense had not provided any information regarding the military exercise, which was a major blunder by the national government. I would have liked to have them prepare a system to alert the public, especially the residents of the city of Yonaguni. The Chinese military began its major drill near Taiwan on August 4, apparently in response to U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to the region. The ballistic missiles fell in waters subject to the exercise, near Yonaguni and Hateruma islands in Okinawa Prefecture.

Japan's westernmost island of Yonaguni is located about 110 kilometers from Taiwan. According to the Japanese Defense Ministry, the missiles fell about 80 km north-northwest of the island, outside Japan's exclusive economic zone EEZ Hirotoshi Ogimi, 65, chief director of the Yonaguni town fishermen's association and deputy head of the Yonaguni defense association, said that the area around the site where the missiles were landed is a fishing ground where locals do pole- and line fishing on a regular basis.

It's close to where we fish. The missiles could land on boats or cause damage on the island. In a case like this, I want the national government to give solid information and explanation to islanders, he said.

According to the Defense Ministry, Chinese missiles also fell within Japan's EEZ near Hateruma Island in the Okinawa Prefecture town of Taketomi. A 65-year-old company executive living on the island told the Mainichi Shimbun, If missiles did fall, it poses a threat, but the only information we've got is from the news, so I feel insecure. We won't get anywhere by making a fuss, but I want the national government and the town office to give islanders information on whether we should evacuate, etc. Denny Tamaki said at a press conference on August 4, "I assume local residents are extremely anxious." I want the Japanese government to ask the United States and China to engage in sober diplomacy to make sure residents aren't harmed.