The latest U.S. agenda to deploy sophisticated missiles on a Japanese island chain near Taiwan is provoking angry reactions from both China and its close partner Russia. The United States is drawing up a common military plan with Japan to deploy High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and other weapons to Japan’s Nansei Islands.

The US plan, the first joint procedure by the U.S. and Japan to ready for a war between Taiwan and China, will concern sending a U.S. Marine Corps regiment that possesses HIMARS and setting up temporary headquarters on the Nansai Islands to station them. The Japan Self-Defense Forces would be anticipated to provide logistic backing, including fuel and ammunition.

A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson condemned the reported plan at a press conference, stating,

China opposes relevant countries using the Taiwan question as an excuse to strengthen military deployment in the region, heighten tensions and confrontation, and disturb regional peace and stability.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova reacted with a stronger statement, cautioning that her country would respond to the deployment with “necessary and proportionate steps” to strengthen its defence capabilities, according to the Russian news agency Tass on Wednesday.

We have repeatedly warned the Japanese side that if, as a result of such cooperation, U.S. medium-range missiles emerge on its territory, this will pose a real threat to the security of our country,

Zakharova said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed that China is Russia’s partner and “Taiwan is part of China,” and that China leading wargames near the island is “a completely reasonable policy,” while Taipei is escalating uncertainties. While Russia and China have no formal military pact, Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping have spoken of having a “no limits” partnership, and the United States blames China for supporting Russia’s war actions against Ukraine.

U.S. Secretary Antony Blinken expressed at a press conference held at the G7 summit in Italy that China’s support for Russia’s defence industry is

letting Russia continue the aggression against Ukraine.