Residents of Philippines Island Facing Taiwan Urged to Join Military (Feb. 18, 2024)

The residents of an island province in the northernmost Philippines are being urged to join the military as the government plans to expand its defenses near Taiwan. Philippine Army chief Lt. Gen. Roy Galido said eligible men and women of Batanes, an island province facing Taiwan, could become reservists to defend their hometown in case of conflict. The island has a population of around 19,000, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority. encouraging our fellow Filipinos [in Batanes] to volunteer, to be a patriot, and be a reservist, they are already residents in the area. Earlier this year, the Philippine military said it is considering conducting a joint exercise with the US on the uninhabited island of Mavulis, just 140 kilometers (87 miles) from southern Taiwan.