The Japanese government has announced plans to designate five airports and 11 ports for “Special Use” and will be starting renovation operations to strengthen their defense capabilities, according to a Nikkei report. The newspaper pointed out that among these 16 facilities, only Naha Airport and Ishigaki Port are located near the Taiwan Strait where there is a risk of conflict.
Nikkei states that the five airports on the designated list include Naha, Miyazaki, Nagasaki, Goto Tsubaki, and Kitakyushu Airports. The 11 ports include Ishigaki, Hakata Port in Kyushu region, Takamatsu, Kochi, Suzaki, and Sukumo ports in Shikoku region, and Hokkaido’s Rumoi, Ishikari Bay, Muroran, Tomakomai, and Kushiro ports.
According to the report, designated airports will be equipped with longer runways and ports will have additional terminals. If an emergency occurs in the Taiwan Strait or elsewhere in the vicinity, the Japan Coast Guard can use these locations to deploy personnel, evacuate people, or perform supply missions. In addition, the renovated facilities can also be used for sightseeing or disaster relief work.
Nikkei adds that the Japanese government has included the renovation costs in the 2024 budget, and the relevant ministries will hold a meeting in the near future to formally approve the plans.
Tags: Japan strengthen designated airports ports Taiwan Strait conflict News
