Japan Installing Missile Defense Unit near Taiwan as China Weighs Assisting Iran
Elizabeth Delaney
Audio By Carbonatix
By Elizabeth Delaney, Crosswalk.com
Japan is installing a missile defense unit on Okinawa Prefecture’s Yonaguni Island, which is near Taiwan. The present plan is to have the unit completed by fiscal year 2030, which comes to an end in March of 2031.
“Currently, we are proceeding with necessary tasks, such as basic studies concerning facility improvements for the deployment of troops to the eastern side of the garrison,” Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said in a Tuesday news conference picked up by Japan Times.
He went on to confirm that a public question-and-answer session would be held for island locals on March 2nd. The session will be hosted by the Defense Ministry.
Japan’s Motivation for Installing a Missile Defense Unit
Japan apparently felt an increased sense of anxiety this past December when China decided to hold military drills near Japan’s neighboring ally, Taiwan. Drills included 130 aircraft and about 17 warships, as well as rocket firings and maritime assault practice, according to a U.S. Naval Institute report picked up by WNG.
In addition, the drills were performed with the intent of blockading Taiwan in such a way that allies Japan and the U.S. would be prevented from assisting Taiwan with defending itself, according to the Japan Times. China sees Taiwan as a renegade province that should be under its rule. Though China has indicated that it prefers a peaceful takeover of Taiwan involving negotiations, it has also said that it isn’t opposed to using force if necessary.
China Watching United States – Israel – Iran Conflict with Interest
Those who have been paying attention to the events of the weekend might refer to their rapid unfolding as dizzying. Though Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed over the weekend, the conflict is far from over and riddled with complexities. China, Russia, and Iran are allies. China has been in discussions with Iran about selling them CM-302 anti-ship cruise missiles, Chinese surface-to-air missile systems, so-called MANPADS, anti-ballistic weapons, and anti-satellite weapons, according to a Reuters report picked up by NDTV. The CM-302 missiles are supersonic with a range of about 290 kilometers, with the ability to evade shipborne defenses and sink an aircraft carrier or destroyer. If the deal between China and Iran is reached, it would be in defiance of a U.N. weapons embargo originally implemented in 2006.
“It’s a complete game changer if Iran has the supersonic capability to attack ships in the area. These missiles are very difficult to intercept,” Danny Citrinowicz, former Israeli Intelligence officer and presently senior Iran researcher at Iran’s Institute for National Security Studies think tank, told NDTV.
Last year, Chinese, Russian, and Iranian diplomats met in Beijing and agreed to strengthen their alliance through international organizations Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and Brics bloc, according to Middle East Eye. Under this intensifying of their alliance, the aggression taken against Iran is now viewed by them as a reason for their involvement in the conflict in whatever way they see fit that’s most beneficial to Iran and their own interests.
Iranian Government Response to United States – Israeli Strike
Iran responded to the attack by striking all U.S. bases in neighboring Arab countries except in Oman, whose foreign minister attempted to mediate talks in Geneva and flew to Washington, D.C. on Friday to meet with Vice President JD Vance in an attempt to prevent the war that is presently taking place, according to Fox News Digital. The Arab countries that Iran has attacked are condemning the attack and vowing to support each other. Most of them are also declaring their right to defend themselves.
Though Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been killed, Iran has a detailed constitution that includes a line of succession and a council that can continue to run the country, according to Geo News.
Barbara Slavin, a distinguished fellow at the Stimson Center in Washington, DC, told Al Jazeera that, “It may already have been running the country, as far as we know.”
Trump has said the bombing in Iran will go on throughout the week, or possibly longer, until all objectives are met, according to The Hill.
Response of Iran’s Underground Christian Church to Attack
At the same time, the people of Iran, especially Christians in the underground church, are “thrilled, they’re celebrating, they’re excited…” Pastor Robby Dawkins told CBN in an interview over the weekend. He went on to note that Iranians feel their day of liberation has finally come, and that he doesn’t know of one Iranian who isn’t happy about the involvement of the U.S. in their country.
When asked what he felt the next step would be, Dawkins said that he knows of many groups of young Iranians “who have been training and equipping for a long time…so that they can forcibly, if necessary, take over the government,” and be a part of the toppling of the evil regime that has been over them for decades.
It’s anticipated that exiled Prince Reza Pahlavi, whom the majority of the people favor, would be part of a six month transition period. Dawkins said the people believe he is committed to their freedom and a democratic Iran.
When asked how people can best pray for Iran right now, Dawkins said people should pray for complete success in the toppling of the regime, that no leaders would remain that could prevent the forming of a new democratic government, that the current government would lay down their arms, that the transition would be as peaceful as possible, that Iranian believers would stand strong as the transition takes place, that believers would have boldness in proclaiming the Gospel, and boldness that Christians would willingly and eagerly step into any roles of influence that they can.
Related Article
ICC Warns of Growing Threats to Christians as China Strengthens Ties with Iran
Photo Credit: Chuttersnap/Unsplash
Elizabeth Delaney has been a freelance content writer for over 20 years and has enjoyed having her prose published in both the non-fiction and fiction markets. She has written various types of content, including Christian articles, healthy lifestyle, blog posts, business topics, news articles, product descriptions, and some fiction. She is also a singer-songwriter-musician. When she is not busy with writing or music, she enjoys spending time with friends or family and doing fun social activities such as hiking, swing dancing, concerts, and other activities.
