Japan is adopting a more aggressive stance in the East China Sea with a new plan to deploy new land-to-sea missiles to the disputed islands.

Japanese media reported that Tokyo has decided to deploy the new land-to-sea missiles to increase its maritime defense capabilities in the wake of China's growing "aggression" in the region.

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"In light of China's repeated acts of provocation around the Senkaku Islands, Japan aims to increase deterrence with improved long-range strike capability," Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper reported.

The new missiles, with a range of 300 kilometers, will be deployed on islands such as Miyako in 2023. Japan aims to protect its territorial waters around the disputed Senkaku Islands with the help of the new missile.

Chinese state media has slammed Japan's decision to deploy missiles to the islands.

"If Japan wants to make trouble with China on the latter's path to the Pacific, then it shouldn't make a fuss about the fact that China will limit Japan's waterways in the South China Sea," Global Times said in a strong-worded editorial. "Japan shouldn't use double standards between the militarization of the Miyako Islands and the militarization of the Nansha Islands."

Japan has been engaged in a bitter maritime dispute with China over the East China Sea. Tokyo is also supporting the Philippines in its dispute with China over territories in the South China Sea. The Japanese government last week announced that it would provide two patrol vessels and a surveillance aircraft to the Philippines. 

TagsJapan, china, East China Sea, Miyako, Senkaku Islands