"[#Japan] will deploy a surface-to-air #missile defence unit in #Yonaguni Island, the country's westernmost island, near #Taiwan"

Reuters - 27 Dec 2022
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/japan-deploy-missile-defence-unit-yonaguni-near-taiwan-jiji-2022-12-27/

The residents say they didn't see this coming and that evacuation would be difficult if the worst happens. Meanwhile Tokyoites seem oblivious that #Tokyo too, is an obvious target for missiles. (#Ukraine may seem a world away).

"In 2016, the [Japanese] government built a military base on #Yonaguni and stationed about 160 soldiers on it, tasked with monitoring waterways and airspace."
"The island is divided on the military presence."

NPR - 5 Aug 2022
On Japan's Yonaguni island, fears of being on the front line of a #Taiwan conflict
https://www.npr.org/2022/08/05/1115384641/japan-taiwan-china-yonaguni-island

Seems islanders thought #GSDF would just monitor the environs when polled about setting up the base, so they said "Yes".

#Yonaguni , an island in #Okinawa Prefecture/#Ryukyus, held its first anti-ballistic missile evacuation drill.
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20221130_24/amp.html
😞