TAIPEI (Taiwan News) —  Japan will station an electronic warfare air-defense unit on Yonaguni Island in 2026, placing new radar-jamming capabilities just 110 kilometers from Taiwan.

Sankei Shimbun reported that Japan's Ministry of Defense held a briefing on the island on Thursday, attended by around 100 residents and Yonaguni Mayor Tsuneo Uechi, per Liberty Times. Shimo Kozo, director of planning for the Okinawa Defense Bureau, said reinforcing the southwest region’s defense posture is urgent and that electronic warfare units will strengthen the protection of remote islands.

He stressed the equipment “is not intended to attack other countries” and urged residents to understand that demonstrating Japan’s self-defense ability serves as a deterrent. Some attendees raised concerns about its safety, but the ministry said the electromagnetic waves used are the same frequency as mobile phones and pose no health risk.

The ministry said the unit will conduct land-based jamming against approaching enemy aircraft, degrading or disabling radar on early-warning planes and other platforms. Deployment is planned for Yonaguni and Kengun Garrisons in fiscal 2026, followed by Naha Garrison in fiscal 2027.

The report said that the electronic warfare unit headquarters at the Asaka Garrison, located in Tokyo’s Nerima Ward and nearby areas, will oversee the operations of units nationwide.

Yonaguni Island established a Ground Self-Defense Force garrison in March 2016. The Air Self-Defense Force permanently stationed a radar unit there in April 2022. 

In November, Japanese Defense Minister Koizumi Shinjiro confirmed that plans to deploy upgraded Type-03 medium-range surface-to-air missiles on Yonaguni Island, capable of intercepting ballistic threats, are proceeding on schedule.