The United States will deploy missiles on Japan’s southwestern islands and the Philippines in the event of a major crisis involving China and the self-ruled island of Taiwan, according to a media report.
The news, which was reported on Monday by Japan’s Kyodo News citing sources familiar with Japan-U.S. relations, came after Admiral Samuel Paparo, the head of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, said China had staged the largest rehearsal for an invasion of Taiwan of his career.
In October, the Chinese military engaged in drills focusing on combat patrol, blockades of key ports and areas, as well as assaults on sea and land targets around Taiwan. Beijing has stated that it “will not renounce the use of force” against Taiwan.
Taiwan forms part of the first island chain, a U.S. defense concept that extends from Japan southward to the Philippines. It aims to leverage allied or friendly territories to contain the …