TOKYO -- Japan's Defense Ministry plans to start relocating 14 Self-Defense Forces command centers underground by the end of fiscal 2025, to better protect vital facilities in the event of a Taiwan conflict or other emergency.
The ministry's fiscal 2025 budget proposal earmarks 72.6 billion yen ($461 million) for this purpose, an eightfold jump from the current fiscal year ending in March. In addition to the 11 centers for which relocation work will be underway by the end of fiscal 2024, Air Self-Defense Force bases in Hokkaido and Shizuoka prefectures and a Maritime Self-Defense Force regional headquarters will be added to the list.
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