Japan conducted its first-ever domestic missile test on Tuesday, as part of its accelerated military buildup to counter China’s regional assertiveness.
The Ground Self-Defense Force’s 1st Artillery Brigade fired a Type 88 surface-to-ship training missile at a drone vessel about 40 kilometres off the coast of Hokkaido from the Shizunai Anti-Air Firing Range, reports AP.
Due to space and safety constraints, past missile tests were conducted in the United States or Australia.
The military confirmed the test was successful and expects to conduct further tests this week.
Dozens of protesters gathered outside a nearby army camp, arguing the tests escalate tensions in Asia and risk drawing Japan into future conflicts.
Tuesday’s trial highlights Japan’s shift toward a more self-reliant military, including new counter-strike capabilities. Amid rising Chinese naval activity and joint exercises between China and Russia, Tokyo adopted a five-year security plan in 2022 identifying China as its greatest strategic challenge.
Under this new policy, Japan is procuring long-range cruise missiles — including U.S.-made Tomahawks — and upgrading its own Type 12 surface-to-ship missiles to extend their range to around 1,000 kilometres.
The mobile Type 88 guided missile fired Tuesday, developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, has a range of about 100 kilometers. Japan is also preparing to establish a new test range on uninhabited Minamitorishima island in the western Pacific, close to where two Chinese aircraft carriers recently conducted exercises.