Japan is considering deploying more than 1,000 long-range cruise missiles to enhance its ability to counter China's growing regional threats, local newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun reported Sunday. Tokyo plans to develop anti-ship missiles to increase their range from 100 kilometers to about 1,000 kilometers, which would be enough to reach coastal areas of China and North Korea, according to the newspaper, citing unnamed sources. It will also have to carry out modernization operations to enable ships and aircraft currently owned by Japan to launch new missiles that can hit targets on land, according to the newspaper. The "Yomiuri" that the missiles will be deployed in the area of ​​Kyushu and its surroundings and on the islands located in southwest Japan near Taiwan. AFP was not immediately available for comment from Japanese officials. The plan is part of Japan's attempt to reduce the gap in missile capabilities with China and at the same time deal with North Korean threats, according to the newspaper. It is reported that Japan's post-World War II constitution does not officially recognize the military, while defense spending is limited to funding defense capabilities. Recent geopolitical tensions, including Russia's invasion of Ukraine and China's more hostile attitudes toward Taiwan, have led to calls within Japan to reconsider its defense programs. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida pledged to significantly increase defense spending, knowing that it remained at about one percent of GDP. And local media reported that the Japanese Ministry of Defense will most likely request 5.5 trillion yen ($40.2 billion) for the next fiscal year, compared to the 5.18 trillion yen it requested for it in the current fiscal year. But the ministry is also expected to demand the approval of a list of unspecified equipment, including the cost of developing long-range cruise missiles, the Asahi Shimbun reported

AFP