YONAGUNI ISLAND, JAPAN – Kotaro Kobari was getting back from an all-night fishing expedition in his small boat off the distant Japanese island of Yonaguni in August final 12 months when his telephone immediately lit up with notifications exhibiting telephone calls and messages he had missed whereas at sea.
For 15 years, Kobari had made his residing fishing for marlin and tuna within the waters close to Yonaguni, however he had by no means seen something like this – as he returned house, he discovered throngs of reporters ready to ask about his shut name with catastrophe.
Kobari didn’t notice he was in any hazard, till journalists and colleagues advised him that the Chinese navy had fired a ballistic missile over Taiwan and into the waters outdoors Yonaguni whereas he was fishing.
The Chinese missile, which fell simply 80 kilometers from Yonaguni, was considered one of 5 that landed that day in Japan’s unique financial zone, a part of Beijing’s outburst over then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s go to to Taiwan.
Now, Kobari, a tough-talking man in his early 60s, shrugs off the incident, although it clearly nonetheless angers him. Speaking to VOA whereas standing on his boat docked at Yonaguni’s essential fishing port, Kobari mentioned the “crappy” Chinese missile most likely would not have harm him anyway.
“Well, maybe it would have hurt me,” he corrects himself.
The missile incident shattered nerves on Yonaguni – a quiet, tropical paradise that has the misfortune of being situated in one of many world’s tense geopolitical hotspots.
Taiwan is simply 100 kilometers away, simply seen on a transparent day. Yonaguni can be near a disputed group of islands which are managed by Japan but in addition claimed by China.
Traditionally, Yonaguni has been identified for its thick rainforests, grassy coastal overlooks the place wild horses roam free, and clear waters the place divers can swim with hammerhead sharks. But more and more, the island is drawing extra consideration due to its navy amenities.
Gradual militarization
Yonaguni is the westernmost in a sequence of small Japanese islands, referred to as Yaeyama, which are progressively being reworked right into a key line of protection as Japan embarks on its greatest navy buildup since World War II.
For a long time after World War II, the islands have been demilitarized. Locals lengthy joked that Yonaguni was a “two-gun island,” referring to the pair of police substations based mostly there.
But Japanese authorities ultimately started to comprehend the strategic significance of the islands, particularly as China’s navy grew stronger and extra prepared to mission power outdoors its borders.
In 2016, the Japanese authorities constructed a navy base on Yonaguni – primarily for surveillance. Those amenities have steadily been fortified.
Last 12 months, authorities introduced a cellular radar unit to Yonaguni to watch Chinese patrols close to the disputed Senkaku islands, which China refers to as Diaoyu.
An digital warfare unit is ready to be put in by 2024. In late December, Japan’s Defense Ministry introduced plans to deploy a missile protection unit – a transfer some worry may endanger the island throughout a possible Taiwan battle.
Shigenori Takenishi, the pinnacle of a neighborhood fishing cooperative, mentioned he welcomed the institution of the navy base however acknowledges many locals fear in regards to the missiles.
“Residents and islanders are very concerned that the deployment of the missile unit will make the island an offensive target for China, a hostile nation,” mentioned Takenishi.
Public opinion shifting
In a 2015 referendum, about 60% of Yonaguni voters authorized the development of the navy base. Since then, many locals say assist has elevated, partly due to China’s threatening habits.
The expertise of Kobari, the fisherman who was at sea throughout the Chinese missile incident, is instructive.
Kobari mentioned he sees a rising variety of aggressive Chinese patrols close to the disputed islands.
“Even before, they were around, but recently they chase you. They follow you. They approach you – the Chinese coast guard, I think. It’s outrageous,” Kobari mentioned. “If they hit me, there’s no way I can win that contest. It’s scary when a boat that big gets so close.”
China’s coast guard has defended its patrols close to the islands, saying it’s countering Japanese incursions into what it sees as Chinese territorial waters.
The scenario has deepened Kobari’s animosity towards China. Not solely does he assist the militarization of Yonaguni, however he says Tokyo authorities ought to go a lot additional to discourage the Chinese Communist Party, which he calls a “cancer.”
Defense buildup
Under plans launched in December, Japan will roughly double protection spending over the following 5 years and for the primary time deploy missiles that may hit navy targets in different international locations.
The insurance policies smash by means of decades-old taboos in Japan, which has a technically pacifist structure drafted by the United States following Tokyo’s defeat in World War II.
In an interview with VOA, Noriyuki Shikata, Cabinet secretary for public affairs on the Japanese Prime Minister’s Office, defended the protection buildup, noting Japan’s difficult safety panorama.
“Unless we acquire, for example, counterstrike capabilities, it’s not going to be enough to defend ourselves,” mentioned Shikata.
Shikata mentioned his authorities is “extremely concerned” about Chinese authorities patrols close to the Senkaku Islands. He additionally mentioned Tokyo is “opposed to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo” in Taiwan.
While China could also be among the many high issues for Tokyo, there are different regional challenges, together with North Korea, which is quickly increasing its nuclear arsenal, and Russia, whose invasion of Ukraine shocked many in Japan.
Many analysts say Russia’s invasion of its weaker neighbor has performed a big position in convincing each Japanese leaders and the general public to assist a extra assertive international coverage.
“There is just one thing that matters – that’s location,” mentioned Tomohiko Tanuguchi, a professor at Tokyo’s Keio University who has held quite a few high-profile authorities positions. “If Japan were in a different neighborhood, Japan would have been as pacifist as it was 45, 50 years ago.”
‘Less safe’
Many Yonaguni residents fiercely oppose the navy buildup – together with Fumie Kano, who runs a vacationer hostel in the home the place she was born and raised.
“We see how useless this military presence is, day after day. Having more military equipment doesn’t make us feel more secure. Having military equipment causes war. We shouldn’t be doing this here,” she mentioned.
In Kano’s opinion, Tokyo ought to pay extra consideration to these within the older era who skilled conflict and who oppose spending a lot on weapons.
If a conflict broke out, Kano mentioned she wouldn’t go away Yonaguni.
“I’d die on this island if it came to that. It’d be terrible. I love this island. I want to live here forever. I’m angry at this policy that could ruin our lives,” she mentioned.