The Chinese Foreign Ministry said it “strongly condemned the Japanese parliamentarian’s visit to Taiwan, and we will take strong measures to protect national sovereignty.”

A few days ago, the Japanese newspaper Yomiuri reported that Japan was considering deploying 1,000 long-range cruise missiles to increase its ability to counterattack China, explaining, citing government sources, that the missiles would be modified with existing armament to increase their range from 100 km. up to 1000 km.

Yomiuri added that the weapons, which will be launched from ships or aircraft, will mainly be deployed around the southern islands of Nansai and will be able to reach the coastal regions of North Korea and China.

Tensions in the region escalated this month after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan, which is self-governing but China considers it a province of its own. Beijing launched missiles near Taiwan and in Japan’s exclusive economic zone.