Japan’s military said on Tuesday it had conducted its first missile test over Japanese territory. The Type-88 surface-to-ship short-range missile was tested on Tuesday at the Shizunai anti-air firing range on Japan’s northernmost main island of Hokkaido. About 300 soldiers took part in the exercise by the Ground Self-Defense Force’s 1st Artillery Brigade, which tested an unmanned boat about 40 kilometers off the southern coast of Hokkaido, officials said.
He said officials were still examining the results of the test, which came at a time when Japan is accelerating its military build-up to gain strike-back capabilities to deter China. Japan plans to deploy long-range cruise missiles, including the Tomahawk missile, later this year. Japan has previously conducted missile tests overseas, including in the territories of its defense partners such as the United States and Australia.