Japan builds radar station near disputed area with China.

Observers believe that Japan's construction of a new radar station could anger China.

On April 19, Japan began construction of a new radar station on Yonaguni Island, located approximately 150 km from the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands, which are disputed with China.

Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera (center) said similar military buildup activities could be deployed on other islands (Photo: Reuters).

Kyodo News quoted Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera as saying at the groundbreaking ceremony: “We have decided to deploy a unit of the Ground Self-Defense Force to Yonaguni Island as part of our efforts to enhance surveillance of the southwestern region. We are determined to protect Yonaguni Island, a precious part of Japan’s territory.”

According to Reuters, in his statement, Onodera also emphasized that similar military expansion and reinforcement could be deployed to other islands in the waters southwest of Japan's main archipelago.

Approximately 150 Japanese soldiers are expected to be stationed on Yonaguni Island to operate and protect the radar station once it becomes operational in 2016.

Yonaguni Island covers an area of ​​30 square kilometers and is home to approximately 1,500 people. Although it is not an island that makes a significant contribution to the economy, the construction of a radar station on the island will give Yonaguni a strategic position in monitoring the activities of Chinese ships from the East China Sea to the South China Sea or out into the Pacific Ocean.

Observers believe that Japan's construction of a new radar station could anger China because it could allow Japan to increase its surveillance range closer to Chinese territory.

Tensions between Japan and China have been steadily increasing recently, particularly after China established an Air Defense Identification Zone over the disputed islands in the East China Sea, including the Senkaku Islands.

According to VOV