Japan fires first-ever missiles from Philippine soil

LAOAG, Philippines — A Japanese anti-ship missile smashed into and sunk a decommissioned Philippine naval vessel afloat in the South China Sea, headlining a culminating event of Exercise Balikatan 2026.This missile firing of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s Type 88 surface-to-ship system from sand dunes near Laoag in northwest Luzon on May 6 was significant for several reasons.Firstly, this was the maiden deployment of Japanese combat troops on Philippine soil since the end of World War II. Abetted by a reciprocal access agreement ratified by Manila and Tokyo on Sep. 11, 2025, approximately 1,400 Japanese soldiers exercised in the Philippines.Secondly, the firing of anti-ship missiles presages growing cooperation between Japan and the Philippines, especially as both nations grapple with the specter of an aggressive China in waters around both countries.If an imaginary curved line is drawn north to south from the Japanese mainland, it would first pass through Taiwan and then continue on to the Philippines. These land masses, plus their archipelagic territories, form a key part of what military planners call the First Island Chain.Anti-ship missiles positioned on Japanese islands north of Taiwan, and on Philippine islands south of it, have the ability to control who passes through the maritime straits near this democratically governed country that Beijing covets for itself.In a time of conflict, if the People’s Liberation Army ever invaded Taiwan, the race would be on for either China or the United States and its allies to control these maritime chokepoints.This is why the deployment and firing of two Japanese Type 88 anti-ship missiles was so important. Such weapons could target any Chinese invasion fleet, or help prevent the passage of Chinese warships into the Western Pacific.Although only two missiles were fired, as well as a GMLRS rocket from a U.S. Army HIMARS, other anti-ship missile systems such as a U.S. Marine Corps NMESIS and a ship-based Philippine Na