Has China’s missile force got America’s Kadena base in Japan in its sights?

Chinese state television has shown footage seemingly depicting the US Air Force's Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan as a potential target of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) missile force. During a CCTV documentary on Monday, satellite images of the airbase were displayed as PLA Rocket Force officers discussed exercise and battle scenarios.

PLA Rocket Force officer Luo Tingrong was seen speaking in front of a large screen displaying the satellite image, saying "Everything you practise today could be what happens tomorrow." The documentary, part of a series celebrating the PLA's 99th anniversary, did not specify the exact timing of the discussion. Kadena, the largest US base in East Asia, is strategically positioned in Okinawa and serves as a crucial hub for American military operations in the western Pacific, making it especially close to potential flashpoints in the Taiwan Strait and the East China Sea.

Beijing considers Taiwan to be a part of China, ready to reunify by force if necessary. Kadena is within the range of several Chinese land-based missiles such as the DF-16, DF-21, and DF-17, all designed to target high-value fixed assets like airbases. Experts suggest that the release of the footage, timed to the PLA's anniversary, is more about projecting resolve to both domestic and foreign audiences rather than revealing a new capability.

Both Japan and the US have prepared for this threat by enhancing shelters, dispersing fuel and munitions, and strengthening defense capabilities. The satellite image may be a deterrent to US military intervention in scenarios such as those in the Taiwan Strait, while also reminding Japan of the importance of reinforcing its defenses against potential Chinese attacks.

This comes amid the ongoing US-Iran war, which has exposed the vulnerability of American bases overseas, including in the Middle East.