(MENAFN) Japan will position long-range anti-ship missiles in its southwestern Kumamoto province as part of efforts to counter what it describes as China’s "military maneuvers," according to reports on Thursday.

The missiles, which are capable of striking China’s coastline as well as nearly all of North Korea, are being added to Japan’s counterstrike arsenal. They are expected to be installed at the Ground Self-Defense Force’s Camp Kengun in Kumamoto by the end of the current fiscal year in March.

Officials say the deployment is meant to act as a deterrent, with Tokyo citing China’s increasing military activities near the Nansei Islands as a key concern.

Plans are also underway to extend the range of the GSDF’s Type-12 surface-to-ship missile to 1,000 kilometers (about 621 miles), enabling Japan to carry out strikes against "enemy bases" if needed.

At present, Japan operates seven surface-to-ship missile regiments, stationed across locations such as Kumamoto City, Oita, and Okinawa. Authorities are considering a phased rollout of the upgraded Type-12 missiles across these regiments in the coming years.

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