Miyako Island to Get Aid to Build Bomb Shelter
16:04 JST, July 23, 2023
The government has decided to help build a shelter on Miyako Island in Okinawa Prefecture for residents to evacuate to in anticipation of a possible Taiwan contingency. It plans to allocate related funds in the next fiscal year’s budget.
It also plans to start soliciting opinions from experts as early as this summer in order to draw up guidelines on shelter capabilities.
In the National Security Strategy revised in December, the government calls for reinforcing the system to protect residents. The strategy stipulates that Japan will secure “various types of evacuation facilities” with a focus on the Nansei Islands, including Miyako Island, which is governed by the city of Miyakojima. The measure is aimed at ensuring the safety of local government officials, who may have difficulty evacuating in advance.
The Nansei archipelago’s Yonaguni Island, in the city of Yonaguni, is located about 110 kilometers from Taiwan. Some have expressed concern that the island may be affected if China invades Taiwan.
The Miyakojima city government in June requested the Defense Ministry provide financial assistance to make the basement of a planned gymnasium useable as a shelter.
The city plans to equip the gymnasium with a storeroom and a generator that could support about 4,500 people for three days.
The central government will consider how much assistance to provide. It will also expedite efforts to build shelters on Yonaguni Island and Ishigaki Island, in the city of Ishigaki.
The government plans to select about 10 experts, including university professors specializing in such fields as civil protection and crisis management, to draw up guidelines on shelter capabilities. Standards for floor space and wall thickness for such facilities are expected to be discussed with nuclear and missile attacks in mind.
"Politics" POPULAR ARTICLE
-
Japan PM Ishiba Says Corporate, Group Donations ‘Not Inappropriate’; Interpellations Start at Lower House
-
Japan’s LDP Proposes Third-Party Panel to Monitor Use of Political Funds; Draft Does Not Mention Banning Corporate Donations
-
Japan to Support Its Companies Expanding into Africa; Creating Initiative to Act as Bridge with Local Start-ups
-
Tourists’ Consumption Tax Exemption To Take New Form; Refunds When Departing To Replace Waivers When Buying
-
Japan, Italy, U.K. Launch Body To Manage Next-Generation Jet Project; U.K.-Headquartered Body Has Japanese Chief Executive
JN ACCESS RANKING
- Japan’s Kansai Economic Delegation Meets China Vice Premier, Confirm Cooperation; China Called to Expand Domestic Demand
- Yomiuri Stock Index to Launch in March; 333 Companies to be Equally Weighted
- China to Test Mine for Rare Metals Off Japan Island; Japan Lagging in Technologies Needed for Extraction
- Miho Nakayama, Japanese Actress and Singer, Found Dead at Her Tokyo Residence; She was 54 (UPDATE 1)
- Risk of Nuclear Weapons Being Used Greater Than Ever; Support Growing in Russia As Ukraine War Continues