Why Japan's latest missile test has China on edge

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. The trials are intended to assess the missile's aerodynamic performance and structural integrity before separation and live-fire tests, moving Tokyo closer to deploying a domestically developed family of long-range stand-off missiles across its land, sea and air forces.The development comes as Japan continues to strengthen its defence capabilities in response to what it describes as an increasingly challenging security environment, driven by China's expanding military footprint, North Korea's missile programme and Russia's growing military activity. Beijing, meanwhile, has accused Tokyo of abandoning its post-war defence posture and pursuing "remilitarisation", warning that Japan's expanding military capabilities threaten regional stability. Long-range strike capability expandsThe upgraded Type 12 missile forms a key part of Japan's push to develop indigenous counterstrike capabilities. While the original Type 12 had a range of around 200km, the upgraded version is reported to be capable of striking targets up to 1,000km away.The ground-launched variant entered service in March as the Type 25 missile, while sea- and air-launched versions are expected to be operational during the next financial year. A submarine-launched version is also under development, giving Japan a multi-domain long-range strike capability for the first time.Defence experts cited by the South China Morning Post said that the air-launched version significantly complicates China's military planning by allowing strikes to be launched from aircraft operating over Japan's main islands rather than solely from coastal batteries.Yoshihiro Inaba, Japan correspondent for Naval News, said the new capability would force China to monitor a much wider area and more launch platforms, increasing the operational burden on the People's Liberation Army (PLA).Christopher Hughes, professor of international politics and Japanese studies at the University of Warwick, said the expanding missile family would strengthen Japan's ability to deter Chinese military operations around the East China Sea and the first island chain. He added that the missiles could also provide Tokyo with the ability to strike land-based military infrastructure if required, while further integrating Japan's emerging counterstrike doctrine with that of the United States.However, defence analyst Masashi Murano of the Hudson Institute cautioned that long-range missiles alone would not be sufficient. He said Japan would also require resilient intelligence, surveillance and communications networks capable of continuously tracking moving naval targets. Beijing steps up criticismThe missile tests come amid increasingly sharp criticism from Beijing over Japan's changing defence strategy.Earlier this week, the PLA Daily, the Chinese military's official newspaper, devoted an entire page to warning about Japan's rapidly expanding drone capabilities, arguing that Tokyo was developing unmanned systems capable of supporting long-range precision strikes and joint offensive operations with the United States.The newspaper claimed Japan was moving beyond its long-standing "exclusive self-defence" policy by investing heavily in loitering munitions, armed reconnaissance drones, autonomous vessels and other unmanned platforms across the East China Sea region. It accused Tokyo of seeking "asymmetric advantages" and warned that Japan was becoming a "state capable of waging war".Chinese officials have also criticised Japan's higher defence spending, closer security cooperation with the United States and the Philippines, and efforts to ease restrictions on defence exports. Beijing has further objected to discussions within Japan over revising long-standing security principles, including debates surrounding the country's Three Non-Nuclear Principles.