Japan to develop longer-range anti-ship missiles

[Haijun watcher]

Reuters

Japan to develop longer-range anti-ship missiles, as China pressure mounts
Reuters
Posted at Dec 19 2020 12:36 AM
TOKYO - Japan on Friday said it will develop new "stand-off" anti-ship missiles that can target warships at greater distances around its southwestern Okinawa island chain, including near disputed islets in the East China Sea that China also claims.
"The security environment around our southwestern islands has become harsh. We have to respond to that in an appropriate way," Japanese Minister of Defense Nobuo Kishi said at a press briefing.
The missiles would allow Japan to expand a strategy known as anti-access area denial (A2AD), that is meant to stop foreign forces from operating freely in waters close to its home territory.
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