KARACHI, Pakistan

Japan on Thursday unveiled a plan to evacuate about 120,000 people from southern islets near Taiwan in case of an emergency, Tokyo-based Kyodo News reported.

Southern islets are regarded by China as its territory.

Under the plan, ships and planes would be able to transport around 110,000 residents and 10,000 visitors from the Sakishima Islands in Okinawa province to eight southwestern and western provinces within six days.

Amid tensions between China and Taiwan escalating, the Japanese government said it plans to conduct field drills for evacuations from the southern province of Okinawa from April next year.

It comes as Taiwanese and Japanese drone makers signed a memorandum of understanding to establish an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) supply chain, with the collaboration primarily focused on disaster relief efforts.

Taiwan’s government has also appointed a former Japanese general as “policy advisor” to the Cabinet.

Shigeru Iwasaki, a former chief of the Joint Staff of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, was appointed as an “official policy adviser” to the Cabinet.

Taiwan is viewed as a possible military flashpoint that could draw the US into conflict with China, posing serious security challenges for Japan.

In Beijing, China's Defense Ministry spokesman Wu Qian said Thursday the Taiwan question was none of Japan's business, and the Japanese side was "most unqualified to talk about the Taiwan region."

The spokesman was reacting to Japan's chief Cabinet secretary's comments that China's "rapidly rising military power was a serious concern” for Tokyo and the international society and the Japanese side was "worried" about mainland China launching military action against Taiwan.