Moscow and Beijing Urge Japan to Reconsider Allowing Temporary Deployment of US Intermediate-Range Missiles
Published On 30 Aug 2025
Russia and China have separately cautioned Japan over its decision to permit the United States to deploy “Typhon” intermediate-range missiles during joint military exercises in Japan next month, deeming the move a threat to regional stability.
“We perceive this as another destabilizing measure as part of Washington’s policy to increase the capability of ground-based shorter and intermediate-range missiles,” Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated on Friday.
Deploying Typhon missiles “in regions near Russia presents a direct strategic threat to Russia”, Zakharova remarked in comments published by TASS, Russia’s state-run news agency.
Moscow also noted Japan’s trend toward “accelerated militarization” and cooperation with the US, according to the spokeswoman.
If Japan does not reconsider its stance on the Typhon’s deployment, Russia “will have to implement appropriate military-technical measures”, she said.
“We will consider the entire responsibility for the further deterioration of the situation in the region to lie with Japan,” she added.
Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Guo Jiakun echoed these sentiments on Friday, urging the US and Japan to foster regional peace and stability rather than undermine it with the deployment of medium-range missiles, even temporarily.
“China always opposes the United States deploying the Typhon Mid-Range Capability missile system in Asian countries,” Guo stated, according to Xinhua, China’s state-run news agency.
“We encourage Japan to reflect on its history of aggression, embrace peaceful development, exercise caution in military and security affairs, and avoid further eroding the trust of its Asian neighbors and the international community,” he said.
Guo also advised China to “learn from history and devote more effort and resources to doing what is right instead of the opposite”.
Reuters reports that the Typhon system is part of Washington’s initiative to stockpile diverse antiship weapons in Asia.
This initiative has previously drawn criticism from China when the missiles were first deployed during a training exercise in the Philippines in 2024.
Manila has subsequently announced plans to purchase the land-based US missile system, which has a range of approximately 480km (300 miles), although a longer-range version is under development.
A spokesperson for Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force informed Reuters that the Typhon would be stationed at the US Marine Air Station in Iwakuni city, on Honshu island, about 890km (553 miles) west of Tokyo.
It remains unclear whether Typhon missiles would be fired during the “Resolute Dragon” exercises between US and Japanese forces, scheduled from September 11 to 25.
“We perceive this as another destabilizing measure as part of Washington’s policy to increase the capability of ground-based shorter and intermediate-range missiles,” Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated on Friday.
Deploying Typhon missiles “in regions near Russia presents a direct strategic threat to Russia”, Zakharova remarked in comments published by TASS, Russia’s state-run news agency.
Moscow also noted Japan’s trend toward “accelerated militarization” and cooperation with the US, according to the spokeswoman.
If Japan does not reconsider its stance on the Typhon’s deployment, Russia “will have to implement appropriate military-technical measures”, she said.
“We will consider the entire responsibility for the further deterioration of the situation in the region to lie with Japan,” she added.
Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Guo Jiakun echoed these sentiments on Friday, urging the US and Japan to foster regional peace and stability rather than undermine it with the deployment of medium-range missiles, even temporarily.
“China always opposes the United States deploying the Typhon Mid-Range Capability missile system in Asian countries,” Guo stated, according to Xinhua, China’s state-run news agency.
“We encourage Japan to reflect on its history of aggression, embrace peaceful development, exercise caution in military and security affairs, and avoid further eroding the trust of its Asian neighbors and the international community,” he said.
Guo also advised China to “learn from history and devote more effort and resources to doing what is right instead of the opposite”.
Reuters reports that the Typhon system is part of Washington’s initiative to stockpile diverse antiship weapons in Asia.
This initiative has previously drawn criticism from China when the missiles were first deployed during a training exercise in the Philippines in 2024.
Manila has subsequently announced plans to purchase the land-based US missile system, which has a range of approximately 480km (300 miles), although a longer-range version is under development.
A spokesperson for Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force informed Reuters that the Typhon would be stationed at the US Marine Air Station in Iwakuni city, on Honshu island, about 890km (553 miles) west of Tokyo.
It remains unclear whether Typhon missiles would be fired during the “Resolute Dragon” exercises between US and Japanese forces, scheduled from September 11 to 25.
