Wow.... based on that.... I estimate that the US State Dept will bill each person
who boarded the evacuation flight from Tokyo to Seoul/Taipei roughtly $3275
and $4278, repectively.(based on mileage and flight hours) That's
a lot more than the standard walk-up airfare between those city pairs.

Is it just me or is that like asking an injured victim to sign a blank check to
cover the ambulance ride, before getting on the ambulance? A few years
ago, I fell ill and was taken by ambulance from the hotel to the local hospital.
Three weeks later, I got a bill for the 2.6-mile ambulance ride, courstey of the
city fire dept.... the bill was $790.... which my insurance company was forced
to pay.... but I think that's like highway robbery... I did not receive any
medical attention onboard the ambulance, other than the EMS guy taking my
pulse and blood pressure...