The governor of Japan's Okinawa Prefecture has warned the central government to "proceed carefully" as defense authorities move forward with plans to station surface-to-air missiles on an island just 70 miles from China-claimed Taiwan.

Why It Matters

Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi confirmed last week that the Type 03 Chu-SAM system would be stationed on the island of Yonaguni, saying this could reduce the chance of an attack on the country. China's Foreign Ministry called the planned deployment " extremely dangerous ."

The announcement came amid a diplomatic row with China following Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's statement that a Chinese blockade of Taiwan would constitute a "survival-threatening situation" under Japan's pacifist constitution and therefore allow for a m

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