China slams Japan's plans to deploy missiles near Taiwan

China slammed on Monday Japan's decision to push ahead with a planned deployment of missiles on an island near Taiwan, escalating a weeks-long diplomatic spat.

Japanese media on Sunday quoted Japan's defence minister Shinjiro Koizumi as saying that the planned deployment of the missiles on Yonaguni island -- which is close to Taiwan -- was on track.

"The deployment can reduce the possibility of an armed attack on Japan," Koizumi said.

Beijing-Tokyo relations have soured this month, following remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggesting that Tokyo could intervene militarily in any attack on Taiwan.

China's foreign ministry on Monday said Japan's missile deployment was a "deliberate attempt to create regional tensi

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