Japan’s planned missile deployment near Taiwan draws China's flak

"So, of course, this is helpful to our national interests as Japan has no territorial designs or hostility towards Taiwan."

On Sunday, Koizumi said the missile deployment aimed to protect Yonaguni, adding, "We believe that having this unit in place will actually lower the chances of an armed attack against our country."

(Reporting by Antoni Slodkowski; Additonal reporting by Ben Blanchard in Taipei; Writing by Beijing newsroom; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)