Japan Transports Ground-Based Anti-Ship Missiles to Easternmost Island for Firing Training

(CNA, Tokyo, 8th, comprehensive foreign report) To conduct firing training with the Ground Self-Defense Force's ground-based anti-ship missiles on Minami-Tori-shima in Ogasawara Village, Tokyo, Japan's Ministry of Defense arranged for a cargo ship loaded with missile launchers, drones, and other equipment to depart from a port in Chiba City today, bound for Minami-Tori-shima.

According to Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK), the Ministry of Defense commissioned a civilian cargo ship to transport the Ground Self-Defense Force's "Type 12 ground-based anti-ship missile" launchers and medium-sized unmanned reconnaissance drones capable of locking onto targets. The cargo ship departed from Chiba Port in Chuo-ku, Chiba City, around noon today, heading towards Minami-Tori-shima.

Minami-Tori-shima is Japan's easternmost remote island, located about 2000 kilometers southeast of Japan's main island of Honshu; it is administratively part of Ogasawara Village, Tokyo. There are no general residents on the island, only permanently stationed personnel such as those from the Maritime Self-Defense Force and the Meteorological Agency.

The Ministry of Defense plans to build a firing range on Minami-Tori-shima and aims to start firing training from the next fiscal year, including training for launching the Type 12 ground-based anti-ship missile, which has a range of over 100 kilometers.

To confirm whether the launchers and other equipment can operate normally after being actually deployed to the site, the Japanese Ministry of Defense is transporting the equipment to Minami-Tori-shima this time.

The report states that this is part of Japan's strengthening of defense on the Pacific side, and related measures will be further promoted. (Translation: Yang Wei-ching) 1150608