China Slams Japan's Military Buildup Near Taiwan, Escalating Regional Tensions

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China has strongly condemned Japan's plans to deploy missiles on Yonaguni Island, a move that Beijing sees as a deliberate attempt to provoke military confrontation and stoke regional tensions. The island is located close to Taiwan, which China considers an integral part of its territory. China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning called the move 'extremely dangerous' and accused Japan of trying to escalate tensions in the region. Japan's Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi had visited a military base on the island earlier, saying the deployment could help deter an armed attack on Japan. The tensions between China and Japan have been simmering over Taiwan, with China not ruling out the possibility of forcibly taking the island. This has led to a deterioration in ties between the two countries, with China and Japan engaging in a series of diplomatic protests and military exercises. The recent tensions were sparked by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's comments on a hypothetical Chinese attack on Taiwan, which she described as a 'survival-threatening situation' for Japan. Beijing saw this as a provocation and responded by announcing a series of measures against Japan, including the re-disposition of its seafood imports and a travel alert. The US has reaffirmed its support for Japan, declaring its 'unshakable commitment' to the bilateral alliance. China, on the other hand, has asked its citizens to avoid traveling to Japan, which has led to a spate of cancellations of Chinese tourists. The situation has raised concerns about the potential for military confrontation in the region. Japan's deployment of missiles on Yonaguni Island has been seen as a move to counter China's growing military presence in the region. However, China sees it as a threat to its national security and has vowed to take resolute self-defense measures if Japan 'dares to intervene militarily in the Taiwan Strait'.