With Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine, many civilians are reported to have been killed every day, and the threat of nuclear war is becoming more real. The Cold War ended, the world became one, and economic globalization was progressing. From the perspective of optimists, it was easy to think that peace would come if countries deepened their ties. It was unimaginable that full-scale combat would break out between major countries. In reality, the lesson that remains is that one must protect one’s own country.
After seeing the fighting in Ukraine and the attack on the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, Europeans began to seriously think about protecting themselves. One manifestation of this is the demand for shelters. This trend is not limited to Europe, but is also occurring in Asia. A scenario assuming a Chinese invasion of Taiwan has become a reality for the people of this area. In Taipei, which is on the front line, shelter signs can be found all over the city. Taiwan will have over 83,000 shelters by the end of 2023. You will see guide signs everywhere in the city. These more than 80,000 shelters can accommodate about 54 million people, which is 2.3 times the population of Taiwan. Shelters are not only installed in countries and areas with high military tensions like Taiwan. Singapore also has public shelters in subway stations and schools. Singapore requires the installation of home shelters in all newly built public housing. It is best if shelters are not actually used. However, in a situation without shelters, the anxiety of risk cannot be eliminated.
Although belated, Japan has also defined shelters as “evacuation facilities in the event of an armed attack” and created guidelines for shelter specifications. This is the first time that such guidelines have been created. The government has proposed promoting the designation of temporary evacuation facilities in “urban areas including political and economic centers.” The government’s sense of crisis can be seen in the fact that it has proposed promoting the designation of temporary evacuation facilities. Requests for the construction of shelters have come from Okinawa Prefecture, which is close to Taiwan. “Shelters are not for preparation for war, but to protect the lives of citizens in the event of an emergency,” emphasized Mayor Yoshitaka Nakayama of Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture, at a press conference. The movement of Ishigaki City, located about 280 kilometers east of Taiwan, seems to be linked to the government’s policy.
