With “Taiwan contingency” in mind, Japan’s government releases evacuation plan for outlying islands of Okinawa for the first time 政府 “台湾有事”など念頭 沖縄離島からの避難計画 初公表

2 comments

1. NHK News:

   https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20250327/k10014762161000.html

   > いわゆる「台湾有事」などを念頭に、政府は、沖縄の離島からの避難計画を初めてまとめ公表しました。住民らおよそ12万人を6日程度で避難させ、九州や山口県の合わせて32の市や町で受け入れるなどとしています。

   > 政府がまとめた沖縄の先島諸島の5市町村からの避難計画では、自衛隊や海上保安庁の船舶や民間のフェリー、それに航空機を使って、1日2万人の輸送力を確保します。

   > そして、すべての住民に観光客を加えた合わせておよそ12万人を、6日程度かけて福岡空港や鹿児島空港などに避難させるとしています。

   DeepL Translate:

   > With the so-called **‘Taiwan contingency’** in mind, the Government of Japan has compiled and published for the first time an evacuation plan for the remote islands of Okinawa. The plan calls for the evacuation of approximately 120,000 residents in about six days, with a total of 32 cities and towns in Kyushu and Yamaguchi prefectures accepting the evacuees.

   > The government’s evacuation plan for the five municipalities on the Sakishima Islands in Okinawa calls for a daily transport capacity of 20,000 people, using SDF and Coast Guard vessels, private ferries and aircraft.

   > The plan also calls for the evacuation of all residents plus tourists, a total of approximately 120,000 people, to Fukuoka and Kagoshima airports over a period of about six days.

2. But why? Is this alluding to nuclear fallout? Or is it some kind of political posturing to portray the military/government as unable to do anything but retreat?

   Should China invade Taiwan, I do not think there is any indication that they would suddenly invade Japan shortly after. I’ve read reports on Chinese military plans by the US and they do not consider this possibility.

   Even worse, is this a signal to China that Japan will not do anything if they invade? I already believe they won’t, in fact I love Artical 9, but that doesn’t mean condoning the use of force by others.