ISTANBUL

The US military is considering deploying its High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) on a remote island in Japan’s southern prefecture of Okinawa for a joint military exercise, Jiji Press reported on Wednesday, citing sources.

If approved, it would mark the first deployment of HIMARS to Yonaguni, Japan’s westernmost island, strategically located about 110 kilometers (68 miles) from Taiwan.

The Resolute Dragon exercise, one of Japan’s largest defense drills, is scheduled for Sept. 11-25 between Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force and the US Marine Corps in Okinawa and other locations in Japan.

The development comes days after independent candidate Tsuneo Uechi, who expressed caution over Japan-US drills, was elected mayor of Yonaguni.

Following his victory on Sunday, Uechi reportedly said joint exercises involving vehicles and Osprey transport aircraft were not suitable for the island.