TOKYO (AFP) – Japan is considering the deployment of more than 1,000 long-range cruise missiles to increase its ability to counter what it calls growing regional threats from China, local newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun reported on Sunday.
The country plans to upgrade its existing surface-to-ship missiles to extend their range from 100 kilometers (62 miles) to about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles), which would be enough to reach Chinese coastal areas as well as North Korea, the newspaper reported, citing unnamed sources.
Upgrades would also need to be made to allow Japan’s existing ships and aircraft to be able to fire the new missiles, which could hit land-based targets, the newspaper reported.
The missiles would be deployed in and around the southwestern Kyushu region and on the small islands that dot Japan’s southwestern waters near Taiwan, Yomiuri reported.
Japanese officials could not immediately be reached for comment on the issue.
The plan is part of Japan’s attempt to narrow the missile capacity gap with China, while also addressing threats from North Korea, the newspaper said.
Japan’s military is not officially recognized under the country’s post-war constitution and defense spending is limited to funding nominally defensive capabilities.
Recent geopolitical tensions have prompted growing calls in Japan to review defense programs.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has vowed to significantly boost defense spending, which has been kept close to around one percent of GDP.
Local media also reported that Japan’s defense ministry is likely to request 5.5 trillion yen ($40.2 billion) for the next fiscal year, up slightly from the 5.18 trillion requested for the current fiscal year.
But the ministry was also expected to ask approval for a list of unpriced items, including the development cost to upgrade the long-range cruise missiles, the Asahi Shimbun newspaper said.
Japan along with India, Australia, and the United States, which form an unofficial military pact commonly referred to as the Quad or the Quadrilateral Security Dialog, have been increasing interoperability in recent years in an attempt to project themselves as a formidable force to counter China’s growing clout in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.