The United States military has intensified preparations at its frontline air base in Japan, with personnel at Kadena Air Base conducting rapid runway repair drills designed to ensure operations can continue in the event of a Chinese missile attack, according to a Newsweek report.

Kadena’s strategic role near Taiwan raises stakes

Located roughly 600 kilometers from Taiwan, Kadena Air Base on Okinawa is the closest major US airpower hub to the island and a central node for the Pentagon’s operations across the western Pacific. The base hosts a rotational fighter jet presence and serves as an operational platform for Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy drone fleets.

Given its proximity to the Taiwan Strait, Kadena is widely regarded as a primary target should the United States intervene militarily in Taiwan, which Beijing asserts is an integral part of its sovereign territory. China maintains that any foreign military backing for Taipei would amount to interference in its internal affairs.
 
A Pentagon assessment on China’s military capabilities notes that Beijing possesses more than 2,000 ballistic missiles capable of striking all of Japan, underscoring Kadena’s vulnerability despite its current defenses, which include the Patriot PAC-3 air defense system.

US forces rehearse rapid runway recovery

During an operational readiness exercise held on November 6, members of the 18th Civil Engineer Squadron carried out rapid airfield damage repair (RADR) training, simulating the aftermath of a missile strike on the base’s “mission-essential” runway.

The drills involved filling craters, clearing debris, and restoring runway surfaces, tasks the unit says are crucial for ensuring the airfield can resume launching combat aircraft under fire.

“Every second counts when it comes to airfield recovery,” said Senior Airman Seth Callahan, noting that timely repairs are “what keeps the mission moving.”

The exercises, detailed in a November 26 Air Force statement, were designed to test the base’s ability to maintain operations in a contested environment.

Read more: China sends UN chief letter over Japan's Taiwan remarks

Major repair works underway to harden Kadena

Beyond the drills, Kadena’s operations support squadron and civil engineer squadron are currently conducting what the 18th Wing described as the base’s most extensive airfield repair projects of the year. The works include replacing worn pavement and upgrading structural sections of the runway.

“Every step impacts the runway’s performance,” said Master Sergeant Brock Butshke, who oversees pavements and equipment for the squadron. “Our goal is to make sure it’s strong, smooth, and ready for anything the mission requires.”

The improvements are expected to bolster the base’s durability and reduce the frequency of future repairs, ensuring Kadena remains “a critical launch point” for US Indo-Pacific air operations.

Kadena Air Base

Kadena Air Base, located on Okinawa Island in Japan, is the largest US Air Force installation in the Indo-Pacific and a central hub for American military power projection in the region. Established during World War II and expanded during the Cold War, the base hosts a significant presence of US Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps units, including fighter wings, reconnaissance aircraft, and logistical operations essential to US regional strategy.

Controversial presence

Kadena’s strategic position places it within close reach of East Asian flashpoints, making it a key site for deterrence missions, surveillance flights, and rapid-response operations. Its presence, however, has long been a source of tension with Okinawan residents, who cite noise pollution, environmental concerns, and a history of incidents involving US personnel, fueling ongoing debates over the American military footprint in Japan.

Takaichi's remarks fracture ties with China

American measures to reinforce Kadena Air Base come as tensions between China and Japan have erupted into a broader diplomatic crisis. Beijing has issued a travel advisory urging its citizens to avoid travel to Japan and has suspended cultural and musical events between the two countries.

The escalation followed remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who told Japan’s parliament on November 7 that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could amount to an “existential threat” to Japan, a scenario under which Tokyo might deploy its forces. 

China responded sharply. Its Foreign Ministry denounced Takaichi’s comments as reckless, declaring that Japan had “crossed a red line,” and summoned Tokyo’s ambassador. Beijing accused Japan of provoking regional instability and demanded a public retraction.

Japan, like the overwhelming majority of countries, formally recognizes the government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as the sole legitimate authority representing China. Under this internationally recognized policy framework, Taiwan is considered an inalienable part of Chinese territory. Nevertheless, in recent years, the United States, several European governments, and Japan have taken political and military steps that Beijing views as undermining the One China principle, including increased engagement with Taiwanese officials and heightened military cooperation in the region.

Read more: Trump warns Japan against provoking China on Taiwan