China issued one of its sharpest warnings in months on Wednesday, vowing to “crush” any foreign attempt to support Taiwan, as Japan moves ahead with plans to deploy missile systems near the self-governed island and Taipei unveils a major defense spending boost, according to Al Jazeera News.
Peng Qingen, spokesperson for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, said Beijing possessed the “firm will” and “strong ability” to defend what it considers its sovereign territory. His remarks came in response to Japan’s decision to deploy a medium-range missile unit on Yonaguni, the country’s westernmost island located just 110 kilometers (68 miles) from Taiwan.
Calling the move “extremely dangerous,” Peng accused Japan of provoking confrontation and deliberately escalating regional tensions. Beijing’s foreign ministry echoed the criticism, framing Tokyo’s military expansion as a direct challenge to China.
Japan defended its decision. Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said the missile deployment was strictly defensive and would lower the risk of an armed attack. He emphasized that the Type 03 guided missiles are designed to counter aircraft or missiles entering Japanese airspace, not to target other countries.
Taiwan, meanwhile, welcomed Japan’s growing military presence near the island. Deputy Foreign Minister Francois Wu said the deployment “helps maintain security in the Taiwan Strait,” noting Japan has no territorial ambitions toward Taiwan.
In Taipei, President William Lai Ching-te announced a nearly $40 billion supplemental defense budget spread over eight years beginning in 2026. Lai argued that compromise in the face of aggression leads only to “enslavement,” insisting Taiwan must strengthen its defenses to uphold freedom and democracy.
The package will fund precision-strike missiles and joint development programs with the United States, Taiwan’s primary security partner. Beijing dismissed the plan as wasteful and dangerous, warning it would “only plunge Taiwan into disaster.”
Tensions continued to rise as Japan reported scrambling fighter jets on Tuesday after tracking a suspected Chinese drone passing between Taiwan and Yonaguni. Relations between Tokyo and Beijing have already deteriorated following comments by Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggesting Japan could intervene militarily if China attacked Taiwan remarks that drew intense backlash from Beijing and a widespread boycott by Chinese travelers.
Despite Beijing’s demands, Takaichi has refused to retract her comments, while Tokyo says it remains open to dialogue to ease the growing strain.
