A new ferry service between Taiwan and Japan has begun operations aboard the Yaima Maru, a vessel also tasked with evacuating residents from southern Japanese islands to the mainland in times of crisis.
The Yaima Maru is among vessels designated to evacuate residents from southern Japanese islands to the mainland during crises.
The service launch was reported on May 28, 2026.
The route supports connectivity between Taiwan and Japan.
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Beijing accused Japan of 'deliberate provocation' after the destroyer JS Ikazuchi transited the Taiwan Strait on Friday, undermining peace and stability. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said China lodged a strong protest with Tokyo, while the military tracked and handled the incident in accordance with regulations. Japan's Self-Defense Forces declined to comment.
Taiwan is exploring the possibility of receiving patients from remote Okinawan islands for treatment during emergencies and major disasters, Deputy Interior Minister Ma Shih-yuan said. He made the remarks at a seminar in Taipei on offshore island medical evacuation, attended by Okinawan officials. Taiwan and Japan could build a stronger cross-border emergency response network by sharing information, Ma added.
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People's Liberation Army warships transited sensitive international waterways off southwestern Japan twice this week, a rare move seen as a warning to Tokyo over its recent Taiwan-related actions. The transits marked the start and end of western Pacific exercises, outbound through the Yokoate Channel on Sunday and returning via the Yonaguni-Iriomote Waterway on Wednesday. The Eastern Theatre Command said it tested troops' long-range operational capabilities.
The China State Shipbuilding Corporation released a photo on Thursday showing a massive hull in a dry dock in Guangzhou. Military observers speculate the vessel is a large auxiliary ship for the People's Liberation Army Navy.
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China's PLA Navy has deployed a task group led by the Liaoning aircraft carrier to the western Pacific for routine training exercises that include live-fire drills and tactical flights.