Japan is looking to expand its fuel and ammunition storage capacity on islands close to Taiwan. That came during an interview between Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada and Japanese media outlet Nikkei Asia.
According to Hamada, Japan wants to expand storage facilities for key materials on the Ryukyu Islands, a group of islands close to Taiwan. He says the move is being done in case “something happens to Taiwan.”
According to Nikkei, Japan currently stores 70% of its ammunition on the northern island of Hokkaido. That’s more than 2,000 km away from Taiwan. Hamada says supplying the Ryukyu Islands would allow for the sustained deployment of Japanese forces in the region.
Nikkei points out that Japan’s military maintains about two-months worth of ammunition at any given time. In the event of a potential conflict—like a war between Taiwan and China—Japan does not have the logistical capabilities to move ammunition swiftly and effectively. The purpose of the project is not only to allow for quicker troop dispatches, but also to establish reliable supply lines in areas closer to Taiwan and China.