Japan has delivered its first domestically built Patriot PAC-3 interceptors to the United States as Washington’s missile stockpiles continue to shrink due to the Ukraine war and global commitments. The export, enabled by Japan’s eased arms-export rules, marks Tokyo’s strongest implementation of its 2022 National Security Strategy. But the move has triggered sharp backlash from China, especially after Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi warned that Tokyo would deploy its forces if China attempted to seize Taiwan by force. Beijing condemned the remarks as “erroneous” and demanded a retraction. Amid this escalating Japan-China tension, Washington unexpectedly withdrew its Typhon mid-range missile launcher system from Japan, a system capable of striking China. The U.S. had previously kept it stationed beyond the planned drill window despite Chinese and Russian protests.