Asian powerhouse, Japan has released its first plans to evacuate more than 100,000 civilians from some of its remote islands near Taiwan in the event of conflict in the region.
This move followed the escalating tensions between China and Taiwan.
Japan would deploy, ships and planes to take about 110,000 residents and 10,000 tourists off five islands in the Sakishima chain in Japan’s far south-west.
The residents would be resettled to eight prefectures in south-western and western Japan within six days, according to the Kyodo news agency.
Evacuees would be transported by private ferries or by air to Kyushu, one of Japan’s four main islands, before being sent on to accommodation in other destinations.
According to Japan, there are plans to conduct evacuation drills on the Sakishima islands, which are part of Okinawa prefecture, from April next year.
Japan’s decision to step up is due to the prospect of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan.
Chinese has insisted that the self-governing island known as Taiwan is its territory and believes it should be “reunified”.
China has intensified military pressure on Taiwan in recent years and has not ruled out using force to bring the self-governed island under its control.
Japan’s government also plans to deploy surface-to-air guided missile units on Yonaguni, located 100km from Taiwan.
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