A handful of sailors and Marines deployed on Mavulis call this tiny parcel of land a “lonely island,” on which they stand guard as the Philippines’ first responders should it get dragged into a conflict between China and the US over Taiwan.
“When we entered the service, we set aside our fears. We’re grateful for the trust to be sent here and do something for the country,” he told the Inquirer.
Troops here rotate every month, but each shift could go on longer as a result of unpredictable weather. Food and drinking water also pose a problem when resupply missions fall behind schedule. Ships, after all, can’t come close to the rocky shores and the seas become treacherous during monsoon season.
Belostrino said part of the troops’ job was to monitor commercial and military vessels passing through and report their movements back to headquarters. So far, they have not felt the tensions despite China’s increasing military activities around Taiwan.Mavulis overlooks the Bashi Channel, a strategic waterway that is part of the Luzon Strait and home to several undersea cables.“It is a gateway between the South China Sea and Pacific Ocean.
Its proximity to Taiwan and prevailing regional tensions make Mavulis top of mind for the Philippine military leadership.
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