In the heart of the Japanese island of Yonaguni, under Chinese threat

Yonaguni is a small Japanese island in the Pacific. Last August, residents watched the Chinese military maneuvers with great concern. A show of force from Beijing against Taiwan and the United States, accused of interference in the region. A resurgence of tensions clearly visible from Yonaguni, located near Taiwan. It was local fishermen who gave the alert of a Chinese missile launch near the coast. The surprise was total.

Since then, the 1,700 inhabitants of Yonaguni have been on the alert. A feeling shared by the mayor, who is well aware of the geographical vulnerability of his island. Thursday, September 16, he welcomed Tokyo’s decision to strengthen its military presence in the region. “We are going to have a base on the island. We are going to have others on the two neighboring islands, starting next spring”, explains the mayor. Renowned for its turquoise waters and its sea fishing, the Japanese island had never before considered such an uncertain future.