Why Japan's latest missile test has China on edge
Japan has begun flight testing its upgraded Type 12 anti-ship missile, which features a significantly extended range of up to 1,000km. This development is part of a broader military modernization effort that has drawn criticism from China regarding regional stability.
Why it matters
The expansion of Japan's long-range strike capabilities marks a significant shift in its post-war defense posture and alters the regional military balance in the Indo-Pacific.
Japan has taken another step in its military modernisation programme, with the air-launched variant of its upgraded Type 12 anti-ship missile entering flight testing as tensions with China continue to rise over regional security and military competition.Photographs taken on July 30 at Gifu Air Base in central Japan showed a Mitsubishi F-2B fighter carrying two inert versions of the upgraded missile beneath its wings, marking the first public confirmation that flight tests are under way.
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