F-22Raptor
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Japan's decision to develop surface-to-sea missiles with a range of 300 kilometers to cover the disputed islands shows the country may be eyeing a shift to an offensive posture, analysts said.
The Japanese government has decided to develop the missiles to "protect the nation's isolated islands," including the disputed Diaoyu Islands, the Yomiuri newspaper reported.
Development costs will be part of the Defense Ministry's budget request for the fiscal year ending March 2018, and the weapons are set to be deployed on islands, such as Miyako, in Japan's southernmost Okinawa prefecture by 2023.
"Japan is trying to use the missile system to lock down the Miyako Strait and prevent Chinese forces from entering the Western Pacific Ocean," Zhou Yongsheng, a professor at the Institute of International Relations of China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times.
He said if the reported 300-kilometer range is true, it would mean Japan is ready for a hard fight. "The range is higher than that of Russia's S-300 surface-to-air missile system, and better than China's current surface-to-air missile system," Zhou said.
Da Zhigang, director of the Institute of Northeast Asian studies at the Heilongjiang Academy of Social Sciences, said the 300-kilometer range missiles could target China's coastal areas.
"If China launches a strategic weapon or if a ship departs from China's coastal areas in Zhejiang Province, they would be within the missiles' range," he told the Global Times.
Da said the missiles are similar to South Korea's recent deployment of the THAAD system, as both would spark a regional arms race.
"Though Japan claims it is for defense purposes, the missiles increase Japan's capability to shift from a defensive to an offensive posture," Da said.
State broadcaster NHK reported Japan's Defense Ministry is inclined to hasten efforts to deploy a THAAD battery in the wake of North Korea's recent missile launches.
http://www.defense-aerospace.com/ar...to-develop-300-km_range-antiship-missile.html
The Japanese government has decided to develop the missiles to "protect the nation's isolated islands," including the disputed Diaoyu Islands, the Yomiuri newspaper reported.
Development costs will be part of the Defense Ministry's budget request for the fiscal year ending March 2018, and the weapons are set to be deployed on islands, such as Miyako, in Japan's southernmost Okinawa prefecture by 2023.
"Japan is trying to use the missile system to lock down the Miyako Strait and prevent Chinese forces from entering the Western Pacific Ocean," Zhou Yongsheng, a professor at the Institute of International Relations of China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times.
He said if the reported 300-kilometer range is true, it would mean Japan is ready for a hard fight. "The range is higher than that of Russia's S-300 surface-to-air missile system, and better than China's current surface-to-air missile system," Zhou said.
Da Zhigang, director of the Institute of Northeast Asian studies at the Heilongjiang Academy of Social Sciences, said the 300-kilometer range missiles could target China's coastal areas.
"If China launches a strategic weapon or if a ship departs from China's coastal areas in Zhejiang Province, they would be within the missiles' range," he told the Global Times.
Da said the missiles are similar to South Korea's recent deployment of the THAAD system, as both would spark a regional arms race.
"Though Japan claims it is for defense purposes, the missiles increase Japan's capability to shift from a defensive to an offensive posture," Da said.
State broadcaster NHK reported Japan's Defense Ministry is inclined to hasten efforts to deploy a THAAD battery in the wake of North Korea's recent missile launches.
http://www.defense-aerospace.com/ar...to-develop-300-km_range-antiship-missile.html
, as for US yes they can pass through SCS but dare Americans to reinforce the international verdict as they claim to be legal?
