Japan's Frontline Island

YONAGUNI, JAPAN - APRIL 13: A radar tower stands atop a hill overlooking a village on April 13, 2022 on Yonaguni, Japan. As Japans westernmost inhabited island, just 111 kilometres away from Taiwan and located close to the disputed Senkaku Islands, Yonaguni has seen an increased military presence as the Japanese government looks to ward off Chinese activity in nearby territory claimed by both countries. Japans Air Self-Defense Force has recently announced that it will permanently station a mobile radar unit on the island, adding to an existing military radar station which allows monitoring of the Chinese mainland and tracking of Chinese ships and aircraft in the area. Japans Ground Self-Defense Force also plans to deploy an electronic warfare unit to Yonaguni in 2023. (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images)