Hey, folks! This is coming straight from an island province in the northernmost Philippines – Batanes. The residents of the islands have been insisted on joining the military by the Filipino government, as it plans to bolster the country’s defense capabilities near Taiwan.
According to Philippine Army chief Lt. Gen. Roy Galido, such a call was in line with Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.’s order to expand the military presence and develop military structures in Batanes. He urges the eligible men and women of Batanes to become reservists to defend their hometown in case of conflict.
“We’re not planning to deploy. We are encouraging our fellow Filipinos [in Batanes] to volunteer, to be [a] patriot and be a reservist,†Roy Galido said in a press conference at Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City on Thursday.
The Army already has a Community Defense Center in the region where residents are encouraged to become reservists. But the question is: Why do they need to double down their military?
Let’s dig in
Batanes is home to 19000 Filipinos, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority. The province is 376 kilometers from the land of Taiwan. On a clear day, one can see Formosa from its Mavulis Island.
The initiative aims to tackle the nation’s weaknesses and bolster its capacity to safeguard its sovereignty and national interests.
Taiwan, an autonomous island viewed by China as a rebellious territory awaiting reunification, separated from the mainland in 1949 after being overtaken by Mao Zedong’s communist forces. The Philippines aims to improve its defense posture in Batanes pertaining to Beijing’s insistence on Taiwan’s reunification with Chinese soil.
Earlier in the year, the Philippine army had expressed interest in holding a collaborative training session with Washington on the deserted Mavulis Island, approximately 87 miles south of Taiwan. This initiative is perceived as a strategic measure by the US in readiness to protect the Philippines from a potential Chinese invasion.
Beijing is not Happy with the Call
 Last week, Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said the island is the “spearhead of the Philippines as far as the northern baseline is concerned,†without directly linking the move to the increasing China-Taiwan tensions.
However, the directive for more troops to Batanes did not sit well with Beijing. Immediately irked, it accused Manila of ‘playing with fire’ on Taiwan’s matter.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin issued a stern warning to Manila. “The Philippine side should have a clear understanding of it, act prudently, and refrain from playing with fire on the issue of Taiwan so as to avoid being exploited by others and leading to their own detriment,” he said.
Defense spokesperson Arsenio Andolon shrugged off Wang’s comments, saying a military buildup in Batanes is none of China’s business, noting that Teodoro’s plan is part of the Department of National Defence’s Comprehensive Archipelagic Defence Concept. He implied that Beijing had no business warning the Philippines about what it does within its borders.
The West Philippine Sea
While listing the number of factors that might be causing the Philippines to multiply its military strength, we cannot ignore another huge factor, such as the West Philippine Sea.
The sea is a territory of a huge regional conflict between Beijing and Manila. In the last couple of months, issues such as Chinese bullying of Filipino vessels in the area and China’s release of a map with a 10th dash line have attracted enough attention on both national and international forums.
The Philippines’ Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo has emphasized in clear words that the Philippines’ stance on the West Philippine issue remains absolute.
The Philippines and China convened a bilateral consultation mechanism on the South China Sea last year amidst between the two countries in the sea. Manalo reiterated that the Philippines was firmly committed to negotiations on a code of conduct between ASEAN and China, but these ‘talks’ will require effort from both sides.
Meanwhile, President Marcos will visit countries including Vietnam, the Czech Republic, Germany, and Australia to boost ties with these countries.
The Local Response
The call to arms, so to speak, has been met with a mixture of enthusiasm and concern by the natives of the Batanes Islands. While many consider this as an opportunity to contribute to the country’s security and resilience, some fear the implications of an increased military footprint in their peaceful community.
The Philippine government’s move to encourage Batanes residents to become Army reservists represents a balancing act between asserting national sovereignty, ensuring local participation in national defense, and navigating the delicate intricacies of international diplomacy. As Lt. Gen. Roy Galido concisely puts it, “The strength of a nation’s military is not just in its numbers but in the heart and commitment of its people.”
This initiative, while aimed at strengthening the country’s northern frontier, also serves as a testament to the Philippines’ will to protect its land, even as it seeks to maintain peaceful ties with its neighbors.
In conclusion, the Philippine Army’s initiative in Batanes is a forward-looking strategy that seeks to tap into the local populace’s potential to contribute significantly to the nation’s defense and disaster readiness.
By encouraging the residents to volunteer as reservists, the government aims to strengthen not only the military capability of Batanes but also its resilience in the face of natural disasters. This initiative, however, unfolds against the backdrop of international scrutiny and diplomatic challenges, highlighting the complex interplay between national security, local community engagement, and international relations.
