The Japanese Cabinet Secretariat has requested a budget of ￥120 million (US$825,102) next year in preparation for a potential Taiwan contingency, the Sankei Shimbun reported on Wednesday.
Local governments of several islands in the Sakishima Islands, which lie between Taiwan proper and Okinawa’s main island, believe that it is necessary to build shelters against blasts and shelling due to concerns that they might be involved in an emergency in Taiwan, the newspaper reported.
The Sakishima Islands are on the front line of Japan’s national defense, but only Ishigaki Island has an underground shelter with high defensive capabilities, it said.
Photo: AP
Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno therefore requested the budget for studying and drawing up the plan for the construction of shelters, it added.
During visits to Miyako Island and Yonaguni Island, both part of the Sakishima Islands, on Wednesday, Matsuno received requests from local leaders for the central government to provide financial support for them to construct shelters, the report said.
The Miyako government plans to rebuild the basement of a gymnasium as a shelter, while the Yonaguni government plans to add shelters into its plans to renovate government buildings, it said.
The budget request includes the cost of researching suitable sites for shelters and drawing up guidelines for shelter specifications according to the needs of various locations, it added.
The Japanese government is deliberating plans to equip the shelters with doors that can withstand an impact force and wind pressure during bombardment, as well as emergency power supplies, the report said.
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