Japan - Japan to deploy forces near disputed Tiaoyutai Islands

Japan is planning to deploy self-defence troops on the country's westernmost Yonaguni Island in order to strengthen the defence of the southwest islands, according to a Nov. 17 report by the Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK).

Threatened by the People's Republic of China's (PRC) growing military strength, Japan saw the necessity to fortify the defence in its southwest islands, the national broadcaster reported on Tuesday.

The Japanese Ministry of Defence plans to budget 1.5 billion yen (US$19.5 million) for the deployment of members of its Self-Defence Forces to Yonaguni Island while monitoring structures are built, the report said.

Japan's Defence Ministry conducted a briefing with Yonaguni residents on Friday, explaining its plan and the reasons behind choosing Yonaguni—the island is on the border and possesses comprehensive social infrastructure. The residents in support of the policy welcomed the Self-Defence Forces for the increased security they believed it would bring, while those against the idea claimed that the peace of Yonaguni would be disturbed.

If budgets pass and land acquisition goes smoothly, the deployment of the forces would be complete by 2015, the broadcaster concluded.

In response, Taiwan's Deputy Defence Minister Andrew Yang said the nation “will be watching the Yonaguni deployment reports closely so as to prepare effective responses.”

While the Yonaguni Island is part of Japan's Okinawa prefecture, it actually lies closer to Taiwan—about 111 km east of Hualien—than to the main island of Okinawa.

The Defence Ministry respects any decision Japan makes on the deployment of military forces on its territory, Yang said, but will continue to monitor all related developments.

Yonaguni is close to the Tiaoyutai Islands, a region said to be rich in oil deposits, which is controlled by Japan but also claimed by Taiwan and China.

The competing claims have led Japan to focus more maintaining its claim to sovereignty over them and other islands in its southern flank.

In 2010, the Japanese seizure of a Chinese fishing vessel for trespassing in seas near the Tiaoyutais set off a major row between the two nations.

News Desk

The China Post

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