Name: The Philippine island living in fear as China-Taiwan tensions rise
Uploaded: 2025-11-01T21:55:55.117Z
Duration: 3 min 28 s
Description: Amid rising tensions between China and Taiwan, residents of Batanes, the Philippines’ northernmost province and closest territory to Taiwan, are worried about their future, as their peaceful islands turn into the frontline of the battle for dominance in the Pacific Ocean.

Amid rising tensions between China and Taiwan, residents of Batanes, the Philippines’ northernmost province and closest territory to Taiwan, are worried about their future, as their peaceful islands turn into the frontline of the battle for dominance in the Pacific Ocean.

Batanes

Residents of Batanes, the northernmost province of the Philippines, are increasingly anxious as tensions between China and Taiwan rise. The island, located just 87 miles from Taiwan, is strategically positioned along the Bashi Channel, a key maritime route in the Asia-Pacific region.

Local leaders and residents worry that any conflict between China and Taiwan could directly impact Batanes, given its proximity and strategic importance. Recent joint military exercises between the United States and the Philippines have further highlighted the island's role in regional security, while concerns remain about civilian preparedness and access to essential supplies in the event of hostilities.

The Philippine island living in fear as China-Taiwan tensions rise

As tensions rise between China and Taiwan, residents of the stunning islands of Batanes are growing increasingly anxious. The least populous province of the Philippines is also its northernmost and closest territory to Taiwan. Until recently, locals say, it was a peaceful backwater where the indigenous Ivatan people make a living from fishing and tourism. Food can be expensive since a lot is shipped from the mainland. So we all have to learn how to fish. But the northern tip of Batanes is just 87 miles from Taiwan's southern point. And many, like fisherman Joven Cabrera, worry their island will get drawn in if conflict breaks out. Nobody wins in war, yet everybody will be affected, especially civilians. We should pray that that won't happen because given how close we are, it's inevitable that Batanes will be affected. Over the past five years, China has stepped up military drills near Taiwan, which it sees as a breakaway province. President Xi Jinping has said Beijing won't renounce the right to use force to resolve the dispute over the island. Taiwan's government rejects China's sovereignty claims, saying only the island's people can decide their future. Chinese officials have labelled Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te a separatist, fueling fears that Beijing may use force to assert control, igniting a broader regional conflict. Batanes also sits on the southern edge of the Bashi Channel, a major shipping lane between the Philippines and Taiwan that connects the South China Sea with the Western Pacific. That puts the island province on the front line of the great power competition between the United States and China for dominance in the Asia-Pacific region. Some countries would want Batanes, I would say, for military purposes and for trade purposes. Commodore Edward Aikidis-Agon, former head of the Northern Luzon Naval Command, underlined the strategic importance of Batanes to his country. It's very important that we come up with credible forces there to protect the national interest. Earlier this year, annual joint U.S.-Philippine military exercises were held closer to Taiwan. Reuters reporting shows the drills revealed how the two sides planned to use ground-based anti-ship missiles to make the Bashi Channel impossible in a conflict. It would help deny the Chinese navy access to the Western Pacific, which is vital for potentially countering U.S. and Japanese attempts to intervene in a Taiwan crisis. After calling the Taiwan issue an internal affair, Beijing's foreign ministry said how it is resolved is China's own business. The ministry also said it has advised the Philippines against using any pretext to draw in external forces. The Pentagon did not respond to questions. Taiwan's defense ministry declined to comment for the story. Residents, however, are looking beyond military preparedness. The least that you can do in fairness to our people is to get them prepared. Former lawmaker Florencio Abad is from Batanes. If hostilities erupt, there may be no sea or air transport, and where do we get our food to eat? If we get involved again in a war, how do we take care of ourselves?

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