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Japan's Hypersonic Missile Engine Test Success... Northeast Asia Missile Competition Intensifies [International Issue+]

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Japan's Hypersonic Missile Engine Test Success... Northeast Asia Missile Competition Intensifies [International Issue+] On the 24th of last month, the observation rocket S520RD No. 1 was launched from the Uchinoura Space Center of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan, for a hypersonic missile engine test flight. [Image source= Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)]


[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Japan has officially declared its entry into the hypersonic missile development race by announcing the success of its first engine test flight for hypersonic missile development. Following China and Russia, which already possess hypersonic missiles, North Korea, which claims to have them, and South Korea, which has introduced development, Japan has now officially declared its development, leading all Northeast Asian countries into the hypersonic missile development competition.


In particular, as China has intensified military pressure on the Taiwan Strait, using U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan as a pretext, the arms race among countries is expected to become even more intense. Japan, which is already in confrontation with China by establishing missile bases in the southern island region of Okinawa, is strengthening hypersonic missile development despite domestic and international controversies over breaking the principle of exclusive self-defense. This raises concerns that overall military tensions in Northeast Asia will significantly escalate.

Japan Ministry of Defense: "First Successful Test Flight of Hypersonic Missile Engine"
Japan's Hypersonic Missile Engine Test Success... Northeast Asia Missile Competition Intensifies [International Issue+] Design of the hypersonic cruise missile under development by the Japanese Ministry of Defense. [Image source= Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)]


According to the Mainichi Shimbun on the 4th, Japan's Ministry of Defense and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) jointly announced the first successful flight test of a hypersonic missile engine. On the 24th of last month, at JAXA's Uchinoura Space Center located in Kagoshima Prefecture, the observation rocket S520RD No. 1, equipped with a hypersonic missile engine, was successfully test-launched.


The S520RD No. 1 was 915 meters long and weighed 2.6 tons. It reached a maximum altitude of 168 km before descending. It achieved a speed of Mach 5.5 (6,732 km/h) and reportedly conducted a combustion test for several seconds. The Ministry of Defense stated that pressure and temperature inside the vehicle were observed, and the vehicle fell into the sea after the successful test.


This officially marks Japan's entry into the hypersonic missile development competition. Hypersonic missiles are weapons that fly at speeds above Mach 5 (6,120 km/h) and operate within an altitude of 100 km, making interception difficult. Even if detected, they can freely adjust their trajectory, making them impossible to intercept with current defense systems.


Since they can be used not only for defense but also for preemptive strikes, controversy has arisen within Japan over violating the principle of exclusive self-defense. Military analyst and former Tokyo International University professor Tetsuo Maeda told Mainichi Shimbun, "Depending on how they are used, there is a possibility of violating the principle of exclusive self-defense," adding, "If the impression is given that this is 'equipment beyond the scope of self-defense,' it could provoke neighboring countries, increase shows of force against Japan, and lead Japan to further strengthen its equipment, escalating the arms race."

Military Tensions Rise Around Taiwan Strait, Intensifying Arms Race
Japan's Hypersonic Missile Engine Test Success... Northeast Asia Missile Competition Intensifies [International Issue+] [Image source=AP Yonhap News]


Japan's official declaration of hypersonic missile development is particularly notable as it comes amid peak military tensions surrounding the Taiwan Strait. Concerns are growing that the arms race will intensify across the entire South China Sea, where territorial disputes between China and Japan over the Senkaku Islands (Chinese name Diaoyutai) and the southern island region of Okinawa are already deepening.


Earlier, the Japanese government announced plans to establish a missile base in the Miyakojima area, located about 450 km from Taiwan in the southernmost part of Okinawa. If China's military provocations continue and military tensions in the Taiwan Strait escalate, more missiles and troops are expected to be deployed in this island region.


China has conducted large-scale military exercises around Taiwan before and after Speaker Pelosi's visit, demonstrating military power. Chinese state-run CCTV released footage on the 2nd showing the Dongfeng (DF)-17 hypersonic missile, developed and deployed by the Eastern Theater Command responsible for the South China Sea facing Taiwan, participating in the exercises. The footage also showed the takeoff of the J-20 stealth fighter jet, known as China's indigenous stealth fighter, participating in the drills.


As China's threat continues, the U.S. government is reportedly preparing countermeasures, considering the possibility that China might strike Asian forward military bases. With military tensions between the U.S. and China over Taiwan sharply escalating, the arms race among all Northeast Asian countries is expected to intensify further.


© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.

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