Japanese activists are sounding the alarm over the government's missile deployments, warning that abandoning the principle of "exclusively self-defense" could drag the nation back into conflict and erode the very peace the missiles are claimed to protect.
Japan's Defense Ministry deployed long-range missiles at the Ground Self-Defense Force's Kenjun base in Kumamoto City and the Fuji base in Shizuoka Prefecture on Tuesday, sparking strong protests from local residents.
In Shizuoka Prefecture, local residents formed the Stop Missile Deployment in Fuji Association at the end of 2025.
Rika Ogasawara, a 50-year-old lawyer and founder of the association, said the missile deployment represents a dangerous shift from Japan's long-standing principle of "exclusively self-defense."
"In 2015, the security laws were passed. Although the Constitution remains in place, laws contradicting it were enacted, and we failed to stop it. I see this as a very serious issue. Now, the government is going further by deploying long-range missiles, effectively shifting from a exclusively defense-oriented policy to one that enables offensive capabilities," she said.
Yasuhito Takeuchi, a 69-year-old former history teacher and longtime peace activist in Shizuoka, warned that Japan's accelerating military buildup could backfire.
"We must prevent these missiles from ever being used and stop their launch. Unless we build a social consensus around this, the situation will spiral out of control," said Takeuchi.
Ogasawara and Takeuchi, along with like-minded residents, have been organizing activities across Shizuoka Prefecture to rally opposition to the missile deployment.
"If Fuji becomes a military installation due to missile deployment, it could also become a target for attack. This is something we must absolutely avoid. I hope through this issue, more people will realize how absurd and reckless what's happening really is," said Ogasawara.
Despite sustained public opposition, the government has pressed ahead with the deployment. Takeuchi said the root issue lies in Japan's need to confront its historical wartime responsibilities.
"The problem goes beyond missile deployment. More fundamentally, Japan must come to terms with its past wars and colonial rule. In other words, it needs to engage in a profound critique of colonialism. Japan must become such a society," he said.
Ogasawara added that as survivors of past wars pass away, preserving peace demands new approaches.
"With the survivors of war gradually passing away, the coming period will be a truly critical stage. We can no longer rely solely on their horrific experiences or reflections. We must find new ways to safeguard peace. I deeply feel this will require great effort and unwavering commitment," she said.
Japan's armament push betrays peace, risks war: local civic group
Japanese lawmaker Keiji Furuya's consistent provocations on Taiwan-related issues have severely violated the one-China principle and the spirit of the four political documents between China and Japan, and China's countermeasures is a just act against the "new militarism" ideology, a scholar on China-Japan relations said in Beijing on Tuesday.
China on Monday announced countermeasures against Keiji Furuya, member of Japan's House of Representatives, for his collusion with Taiwan secessionist forces and other egregious moves, said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning. The punitive countermeasures against Furuya are a means of deterrence and warning, and China will also take other necessary punitive measures in light of the situation, according to Mao.
Furuya has made a number of sneaky visits to China's Taiwan region, and at a forum there on March 16, he provocatively declared "Japan's determination to protect Taiwan" and even claimed that "changes in Taiwan cannot be allowed to happen."
In an interview with China Central Television on Tuesday, Meng Xiaoxu, a research fellow at the Institute of Japanese Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said Furuya's moves are a direct challenge to established diplomatic norms.
"The speech he made in Taiwan was actually to defend [Japanese Prime Minister Sanae] Takaichi's erroneous remarks concerning Taiwan. He also mentioned the issue of so-called 'military exchanges' between Japan and Taiwan, which apparently goes against the basic consensus on the one-China principle in China-Japan relations," said Meng.
Furuya has served as the chairman of the Japanese Diet Members' Consultative Council with Taiwan since 2018, an organization known for its strong pro-Taiwan secession leanings.
"This council was actually an organization set up in 1973 by some pro-Taiwan elements in Japan after the normalization of China-Japan diplomatic relations in 1972. Its main purpose was to maintain contact with Taiwan secessionists through alternative channels. Especially after Keiji Furuya became its chairman, the frequency and scale of the organization's visits to Taiwan have exceeded historical levels," said Meng.
Furuya is widely regarded as one of Sanae Takaichi's core aides. Last October, he was appointed chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party's Election Strategy Committee, responsible for election strategy affairs. Throughout his political career, Furuya has also repeatedly visited the Yasukuni Shrine, which honors 14 Class-A World War II criminals.
"Keiji Furuya frequently visits the Yasukuni Shrine, and when he visits the Yasukuni Shrine, he never forgets to mention the Taiwan issue. In fact, he is Takaichi's spokesperson and major promoter on the Taiwan issue. He represents Japan's far-right-wing forces, the idea of 'using Taiwan to contain China' is deeply rooted in his mind. We indeed should take resolute measures to counter it. A major reason for the current downturn in China-Japan relations is Takaichi's erroneous remarks concerning Taiwan, and Japan's current collusion with Taiwan, who not only collude but also make provocations. It is Japan that has deviated from the political foundation of China-Japan relations and continuously provoked China's national interests. The historical revisionism led by the Japanese government is getting rampant throughout the country, leading to the current prevalence of 'new militarism' ideology, which is very dangerous," said Meng.
Chinese scholar justifies countermeasures against Japanese lawmaker
Chinese scholar justifies countermeasures against Japanese lawmaker
