China Warns Japan of ‘Painful Price’ Over Taiwan as Tokyo Pushes Yonaguni Missile Plan

Overview

• China’s defense spokesperson said Japan would pay a “painful price” if it crossed a red line on Taiwan, responding to Tokyo’s plan to place air-defense missiles near the island.
• Japan’s defense minister said deployment of a medium-range surface-to-air missile unit on Yonaguni, roughly 110 km from Taiwan, is moving forward.
• U.S. President Donald Trump urged Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in a phone call not to further escalate tensions, according to Reuters sources, while Tokyo disputed a separate WSJ claim that he told her not to provoke China over sovereignty.
• Russia’s foreign ministry accused Japan of militarizing islands under U.S. influence and said it reserves the right to respond firmly if the missile plan proceeds.
• Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te announced a US$40 billion defense budget increase over eight years as Chinese military activity around the island intensifies.