Japan mulls setup of Okinawa evacuation shelter amid Taiwan tensions

Ominawans are always asking Tokyo for more money.nnwhats going to happen here is they will get a budget for the evacuation shelter but then claim building one will harm the natural habitat. It's always a Catch 22 dealing with the southern Islanders.

Is a war looming as large as to have to build shelters? 

Reminds me of my pre-war days in Taiwan when the Allies' invasion of Taiwan was looming large (it was indeed) and the residents were encouraged to build private shelters in the corner of their land lot. I remember ethnic Taiwanese building shelters within their own home, probably thinking the Allies’ airplanes wouldn’t bombard their homes.

Was building shelters helpful? Wasn’t it much ado about nothing?

It's very simple, actually. Stay out of it and be at peace.

Japan is considering setting up an evacuation shelter for residents of the southern island prefecture of Okinawa in case of a potential contingency near Taiwan

Is a war looming as large as to have to build shelters?

Given China's growing bellicosity, yes we should be prepared.

How many people believed Russia wouldn't actually invade Ukraine? If preparations had been more thorough the invasion may have been prevented, or quickly stopped.

It's very simple, actually. Stay out of it and be at peace.

Japan, Taiwan, and all the other countries threatened by China would like to be at peace. The problem is that Xi doesn't.

The problem is that Taiwan is not a country. I was not aware that one side in a civil war can call time out.

This fiction that it's Taiwan first and then Okinawa (or whatever imaginable place) is pure fiction pushed by the US military industrial complex.

Ominawans are always asking Tokyo for more money.nnwhats going to happen here is they will get a budget for the evacuation shelter but then claim building one will harm the natural habitat. It's always a Catch 22 dealing with the southern Islanders

Well, I guess you think it's all well and good that the local governments should foot the bills for any "plans" the national government wants to implement locally.

I have no idea where you live, but I highly doubt you would want to pay for my new house, on YOUR front yard, because I wanted to put it there. Never gonna fly right?

Why is you expect the local government to have to fit the bill? That's just plain ludicrous!

deanzaZZRToday 09:57 am JST

The problem is that Taiwan is not a country. I was not aware that one side in a civil war can call time out.

The civil war is long over, and Taiwan and China are de facto separate countries, even if Taiwan is not "officially" recognized due to Chinese diplomatic pressure.

This fiction that it's Taiwan first and then Okinawa (or whatever imaginable place) is pure fiction pushed by the US military industrial complex.

Given China's attitude, posture, massive military build-up, and stated aims, it's best for everyone to be prepared. It's certainly not "pure fiction" that Xi would love to control Taiwan, Okinawa, and the whole of the South and East China seas (and more): it's very obvious for anyone to see.

Whether he actually tries to take them depends on how well the rest of us can deter him.

It's always a Catch 22 dealing with the southern Islanders

That's not prejudice, it racist. And moderately ignorant.

Just because no bullets are flying or deaths occurring doesn't mean the war finished

Tell that to North and South Korea too!

Project 5150 NumbskullToday 11:43 am JST

Furthermore Taiwan still lays claim to being the rightful government of the whole of China.

No, it doesn't. It did previously, but now doesn't under Tsai.

The civil war is finished. The two countries are separate.

Former colonialists need not apply.

It's not Japan's fight.

@isabelle Show us this National Assembly resolution you speak of.

Article 4 (Constitution)

The territory of the Republic of China according to its existing national boundaries shall not be altered except by resolution of the National Assembly.

https://law.moj.gov.tw/ENG/LawClass/LawAll.aspx?pcode=A0000001

deanzaZZRToday 09:57 am JST

The problem is that Taiwan is not a country. I was not aware that one side in a civil war can call time out.

I was not aware that a civil war could have a 75 year time out, complete with negotiation and trade.

This fiction that it's Taiwan first and then Okinawa (or whatever imaginable place) is pure fiction pushed by the US military industrial complex.

There are posters on this very site that speculate as to what an independent Ryuku would look like. Thankfully it will never happen.

Project 5150 NumbskullToday 11:43 am JST

The civil war is obviously not over is it !

Do you see guns firing at each other or do you see trade between the two countries?

Furthermore Taiwan still lays claim to being the rightful government of the whole of China.

Hence the civil war continues.

It's almost as if someone has a gun to the head of the government of Taiwan that prevents them from making any move that looks like independence..

Just because no bullets are flying or deaths occurring doesn't mean the war finished

Actually it very much does, as does the trade that happens regularly.

deanzaZZRToday 01:08 pm JST

@isabelle Show us this National Assembly resolution you speak of.

Tsai has already said Taiwan is de facto independent, and she doesn't claim to rule mainland China, but she doesn't have the power to change the constitution. And Tsai wouldn't attempt it anyway, as it would cause Taiwan to be attacked by a rabid China.

https://thediplomat.com/2021/09/taiwanese-presidents-will-not-and-can-not-unilaterally-change-taiwans-status/

“We don’t have a need to declare ourselves an independent state. We are an independent country already.”

And yet, rules based order and all, lalalala

Article 4

The territory of the Republic of China according to its existing national boundaries shall not be altered except by resolution of the National Assembly.

military tensions have been mounting near Taiwan

Pure fantasy and wishful thinking. there isn’t going to be a war. Get over it.

They already have the Beijing-Taipei high speed railway ready to go with a submarine tunnel.

Xi is the reason there’s no war. My opinion will change post Xi if they put in a dragon. Xi is a panda.

Nothing new. Military (PLA) wants to take action. Leader is calm and can calculate and conclude that war is not the answer.

quercetumJuly 25 08:43 pm JST

military tensions have been mounting near Taiwan

Pure fantasy and wishful thinking. there isn’t going to be a war. Get over it.

Nobody sane wishes it, but the live fire exercises around Taiwan are not fantasy.

Xi is the reason there’s no war. My opinion will change post Xi if they put in a dragon. Xi is a panda.

Well if the CCP is going back down the Cultural Revolution route, that should concern you. Xi already wrecked China's economy.

Nothing new. Military (PLA) wants to take action. Leader is calm and can calculate and conclude that war is not the answer.

Yes it does seem the CCP doesn't properly control the PLA. A clear sign of a failed state.

Isabelle,

All you want to say, of course, is: "Better safe than sorry."

In a mega city like Tokyo, there are a lot of infrastructure, such as subway stations or metros, that can serve as shelters in case missile-exchanging war occurs. But a remote islend like Miyakojima, there is no such infrastructure to serve as shelters. So, you have to build shelters from ground zero. How much does it cost to build shelters for the whole population of the island which numbers more than 50,000?

Do you think the central government is willing enough to bear the cost?