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Japan Fires Anti-Ship Missile at Target Ship During US-Philippines Drills
South China Morning Post reported that Japanese forces fired a Type 88 surface-to-ship missile system for the first time outside its territory during the 2026 Balikatan exercises. The action occurred as part of joint drills with the US and Philippines.
Jul 13, 7:00 AM·1m read1 source
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Japanese forces fired a Type 88 surface-to-ship missile system outside its territory for the first time during the 2026 Balikatan annual joint military exercises with the US and the Philippines, South China Morning Post reported. The live-round strike targeted a decommissioned Philippine Navy vessel.
Wu Shicun, founding president of China’s National Institute for South China Sea Studies, described the action at a round table event in Hong Kong on Monday.
He said it marked the first time Japan had shown off its military muscle since the end of World War II. The round table was jointly organised by the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, the Huayang Centre for Maritime Cooperation and Ocean Governance, and the Asian Academy of International Law.
Wu stated that unilateral infringements in the disputed waters were becoming normalised and noted a steep rise in military deployments, joint exercises and maritime patrols by countries outside the region.
Japan deployed more than 1,400 personnel, three major warships and transport aircraft to this year’s Balikatan exercises, South China Morning Post reported.
