New Taiwan-Japan ferry service debuts on ship that has war evacuation role

A new weekly overnight ferry, the Yaima Maru, began service linking Keelung (Taiwan) and Ishigaki (Japan) to boost tourism, logistics and cultural exchange.
The Yaima Maru is also on Japan’s list of vessels that could be used to evacuate residents from southern islands in a crisis — an interesting dual-use detail.
The route highlights close Taiwan–Japan ties and spotlights the Ryukyu islands as an emerging gateway for travel and regional connections.