New Taiwan-Japan Ferry Service Begins on Vessel Designated for Island Evacuations

A new ferry service between Taiwan and Japan began operations on Thursday using a vessel that Japanese authorities have designated for possible emergency evacuations. The Yaima Maru will run once a week between the northern Taiwan port of Keelung and Ishigaki Island in Okinawa Prefecture.

The overnight journey is intended to serve growing tourist traffic between the two locations. The same ship appears on a list of vessels the Japanese government compiled this year for moving residents from southern islands to the Japanese mainland during a regional crisis.

China, which claims Taiwan as its territory, has increased military activity near the island over the past five years. Some of those exercises have taken place near Japanese waters. The ferry will continue its scheduled passenger service unless authorities direct it to other duties.