Japan’s Ruling LDP Voices Concern After China Test-Fires Missile Into Pacific

According to Lianhe Zaobao, China’s military test-fired a missile with a training dummy warhead into the Pacific on July 6, a move Japanese mainstream media described as “clearly a threat” despite China having notified relevant countries including Japan in advance. Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) held a joint meeting on July 8 in which participants expressed serious concern and said the launch posed a major threat to Japan’s and Asia’s security; LDP Foreign Affairs Division head Kei Takagi cited the test as symbolizing “opaque military expansion,” while LDP Defense Division head Taro Honda said the missile could potentially be converted into nuclear capability and that Japan’s direction of strengthening its defense posture would not change. Separately, Sasakawa Peace Foundation commentator Bonji Ohara said the launch was unlikely to be aimed at Japan and was more likely strategic signaling intended to demonstrate an ability to strike the US mainland, while University of Tokyo professor emeritus Haruki Wada said China’s prior notification to nearby countries was meant to avoid US misjudgment and retaliation. The Asahi Shimbun reported China has about 620 nuclear warheads usable for such missiles and projected the number could rise to 1,000 by 2030, adding that while the test used a dummy warhead, the missile is expected to be capable of carrying a nuclear warhead in an operational launch.