Japan builds radar station near disputed area with China

Observers say 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, only about 150 km from the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands disputed with China.

Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera (center) said similar military build-up activities may be deployed on some other islands (Photo: Reuters)

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

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

About 150 Japanese soldiers are expected to be stationed on Yonaguni Island to operate and guard the radar station after it becomes operational in 2016.

Yonaguni Island has an area of ​​30 square kilometers with a population of about 1,500 people. Although it is not an island with important contributions to the economy, with the construction of a radar station on this island, Yonaguni will have a strategic position in monitoring the activities of Chinese ships from the East China Sea to the South China Sea or to the Pacific Ocean.

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

Tensions between Japan and China have been increasing in recent times, especially after China established an Air Defense Identification Zone over disputed islands in the East China Sea, including Senkaku./.

According to VOV