Japan fires Tomahawk missiles, ending post‑WWII self‑defence stance

The Japanese Maritime Self‑Defense Force launched long‑range Tomahawk cruise missiles for the first time, a capability that can reach roughly 1,600 km. Retired Admiral Cem Gürdeniz said the test marks the end of the "self‑defence only" policy that has guided Japan since 1945, noting that the country now possesses a genuine deep‑strike capability.

The move is part of a broader shift in Japan’s security strategy, which in recent years has adopted U.S.‑led NATO‑style standards, increased defence spending to about 2 % of GDP, and integrated its defence industry with allied supply chains. Analysts say the new capability will reshape the security balance in the Asia‑Pacific, allowing Japan to act beyond its borders and to support U.S. efforts to contain China.