A group of Japanese residents gathered outside the Ministry of Defense in Tokyo on Tuesday evening, protesting Japan's deployment of long-range missiles at two Ground Self-Defense Force bases.
Japan's Defense Ministry said on Tuesday that long-range missiles with counterstrike capabilities have been deployed at Camp Kengun in Kumamoto Prefecture and Camp Fuji in Shizuoka Prefecture.
Camp Kengun has been equipped with a ground-launched version of the upgraded Type 12 land-to-ship guided missile that can fly about 1,000 kilometers, far exceeding Japan's territorial boundaries and widely seen as having clear offensive capabilities.
Meanwhile, hyper velocity gliding projectiles have been equipped at a training unit at Camp Fuji. The deployed model has a range of several hundred kilometers, with the ministry working to upgrade it to around 2,000 kilometers.
These moves have been met with outrage by some members of the public who believe the government has failed to explain the defensive need for the weaponry placements.
"Such dangerous things must not be deployed at the foot of Mount Fuji. To express our opposition, we went to the Ground Self-Defense Force bases today, and submitted an application to the senior management of the base to withdraw the deployment. We have collected over 14,000 signatures online, and the number of signatures is still increasing. I hope to convey this public opinion to the relevant departments. Japan cannot expand its military. Instead, it needs to ensure security through more diplomatic efforts," said Hiromi Yamazaki, a representative of local civic group Stop Missiles at Fuji Association.
Protesters warned that local populations would bear the brunt of the damage in the event of conflict.
"If anything happens, local residents are likely to be the first to suffer. That is the most worrying part. The deployment was carried out without any explanation. On the one hand, the government says it is to protect the nation, but on the other hand, local residents were given no information at all. This inevitably raises doubts about what exactly is being protected?" said a demonstrator.
Legal experts at the rally argued the missile deployment violates Article 9 of Japan's pacifist Constitution, which renounces war and prohibits maintaining warmaking capacity.
"I think this is clearly a violation of the Constitution, specifically Article 9, which stipulates that Japan shall not maintain war potential. Although I was not yet born 80 years ago, that war has caused immense suffering. The pacifist Constitution was established based on Japan's history of aggression. We must absolutely safeguard the pacifist Constitution," said Kazuya Tsukamoto, an attorney.
Demonstrators in Tokyo protest against Japan's missile deployments
