Japan to triple number of ballistic missile defense units in remote southwestern islands

Japan is planning to triple the number of units in its Self-Defense Forces equipped with ballistic missile interception capabilities in the country's remote southwestern islands by the end of fiscal 2031, a draft of the plan shows.

The plan is expected to be included in the government's National Defense Program Guidelines, a 10 year defense buildup policy to be updated by the end of the year, as the nation focuses on boosting its defense capabilities in southwest Japan, a strategically important area in light of China's muscle-flexing in the East China Sea.

According to a draft by Kyodo News on Sunday, Japan plans to increase the number of SDF ballistic missile defense units in the Nansei Islands, an island chain stretching southwest from Kyushu to Taiwan, to 11 from the current four by the end of March 2032, according to the draft obtained by Kyodo News on Sunday.

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