Japan to Test Hypersonic Missiles in Australia Following Military Deal

Japan is accelerating its military alignment across the Indo-Pacific, securing fresh defense cooperation deals in Canberra while rapidly transforming the island of Mageshima into a strategic hub. This military buildup has drawn condemnation from Beijing.

The Canberra Agreement and Hypersonic Testing Plans

Japanese officials finalized a military cooperation agreement with Australian counterparts during diplomatic talks in Canberra. As part of this pact, Japan will test hypersonic missiles in Australia.

But there is a catch.

Mageshima Island: Transforming the Strategic Osumi Strait

While the diplomatic track advances in Australia, satellite imagery reveals an acceleration of military engineering closer to home. According to exclusive data published by the Global Times, the island of Mageshima—acquired by Tokyo in 2019 for 16 billion yen—has morphed into a military installation strategically positioned at the mouth of the Osumi Strait. Commercial satellite imagery captured between May 2024 and September 2025 illustrates a landscape shift: a runway of about 2,000 meters, munitions depots, fuel storage facilities, and a temporary pier for warships now dominate the terrain.

Japanese defense planners intend to utilize Mageshima as a training ground for F-35, F-15, and F-2 fighters, including F-35B aircraft. In the event of conflict, the base will function as a logistical and operational platform for both Japanese forces and United States military assets stationed in Japan.

Strategic Asset	Location	Primary Operational Purpose
Mageshima Military Base	Osumi Strait, Japan	F-35 training hub, logistics platform, and regional power projection.
Yonaguni Missile Batteries	Japan	Type 12 anti-ship and Type 03 surface-to-air missile deployment near Taiwan.
Australia Testing Ranges	Australia	Designated proving grounds for Japanese hypersonic missile trials.

Beijing’s Alarm and the Shadow of History

Beijing has met Tokyo’s infrastructure development and strategic missile deployments with diplomatic pushback. Chinese foreign policy officials and military analysts frame these actions through the lens of historical grievances and modern territorial disputes. As noted by L’Antidiplomatico, military expert Zhang Junshe characterized the Mageshima facility as an unsinkable aircraft carrier designed to control the Osumi Strait, block the passage of the Chinese Navy, and interfere in the Taiwan issue.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning recently reinforced this stance during regional press briefings marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the War of Resistance against Japanese aggression and the recovery of Taiwan. “China will never allow external forces to lay hands on Taiwan, nor will it tolerate the return of Japanese militarism,” Mao stated. Concurrently, Tokyo has pushed forward with deploying Type 12 anti-ship missiles and Type 03 air defense systems to islands like Ishigaki and Yonaguni—the latter sitting 150 kilometers from Taiwanese shores.

Macroeconomic Ripple Effects Across Global Supply Chains

The Takeaway

How do you see these shifting defense pacts influencing the economic stability of the region? Share your thoughts below.

Photo: lantidiplomatico.it