On a remote volcanic island south of Kyushu, Japan ’s ambitious plan to build a cutting-edge military airbase has stalled.
Mageshima, once a sleepy footnote of wartime history, was supposed to be operational by 2027. But as construction drags on, questions are mounting about Tokyo’s ability to bolster its defences against the looming spectre of a Taiwan crisis.
The airbase is now expected to be operational in late March 2030, the Ministry of Defence confirmed last year. Officials blame the delay on a perfect storm of challenges: construction crews diverted to rebuild earthquake-damaged areas on the Noto peninsula , raw material shortages, and surging costs tied to preparations for the Osaka World Expo , scheduled to open in April.
Even nature has conspired against the project. Poor weather in southwest Japan has repeatedly delayed the delivery of heavy machinery to the island, further stalling the construction of vital port facilities.
“There is huge demand for more bases and greater infrastructure across southwest Japan as a result of the concentration of threats in the region of Okinawa and Kyushu,” said Ryo Hinata-Yamaguchi, an associate professor at Tokyo International University’s Institute for International Strategy.