Japan is strengthening its defense measures in the Pacific as threats arise from the Asian mainland. With the Chinese aircraft carriers 'Liaoning' and 'Shandong' entering Japan's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and the Pacific for combat drills, the Japanese Ministry of Defense has decided to deploy surveillance radar on Minami-Torishima to enhance monitoring of Chinese military aircraft.

According to a report by the Japan Sankei News, as China's naval activities intensify, especially with the first crossing of the 'Second Island Chain', the Ministry of Defense has outlined plans in the 2022 'Defense Capability Improvement Program' to deploy mobile radars on remote islands in the Pacific. Currently, the Pacific defense lacks sufficient radar coverage, with only Sulfur Island equipped, while the Ogasawara and Izu islands lack radar installations. Though Minami-Torishima has a presence of Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force, there are no civilians living there, making radar installation relatively easier according to internal sources.

Furthermore, plans include establishing a ground-based Self-Defense Force missile range on the island for the 12-type anti-ship missile capable of targeting naval vessels from land. The Ministry will also build mobile radar on Kitadaito Island in Okinawa to detect Chinese military movements in the Pacific. This push for radar network expansion is driven by China's enhanced maritime progression. A senior Self-Defense official expressed concern that, 'In the future, their operational range may further expand.' Japan has been strengthening its defense in the southwestern region in response to potential crises involving Taiwan, but the defense of the Pacific islands remains relatively weak.