00:02In the picturesque, batanous islands of the Philippines, fears of a potential war between
00:07China and Taiwan are quietly growing. DW visited this archipelago on the northern frontier of
00:13Philippines, just across the sea from Taiwan. Between them lies the Bashi Channel, linking the
00:18South China Sea to the Pacific. For those who fish in these waters, spotting unidentified
00:22foreign vessels has become a regular affair. Throughout 2025, sightings were reported across
00:28multiple islands, including Mavulis and nearby waters.
00:36Whenever we head out from here to Mavulis, we've been seeing more and more yachts and foreign
00:40vessels since the pandemic. When we see them, of course we get scared. We don't know if they
00:53might ram you or do something else. Their vessels are much bigger, and we don't know
00:58who they are, what they want, or what they plan to do. We were heading north when we spotted
01:08them out at sea. They were fishing there too.
01:11The uncertainty raises fears of collisions and losing access to fishing grounds.
01:17It has a huge impact on fishermen. Every trip out to sea comes with fear for their safety.
01:24Some will still risk their lives for their families. But this is clearly hitting many livelihoods
01:29hard.
01:32The Batanes Islands
01:34The Batanes Islands house 20,000 people, five small boats, one airport, and a district hospital.
01:39Life here revolves around sea, crops, and cattle. Yet, its residents are consumed by the fear
01:44of being caught up in a potential conflict between China and Taiwan.
01:48The number one concern of the Philippines would be our Filipinos living in Taiwan.
01:54The Philippine government says Batanes' location makes the threat of a Taiwan conflict impossible
01:59to ignore, especially with an estimated 160,000 Filipino workers in Taiwan.
02:05Don't think that China will not seek to expand its control, not just over the space around
02:11Taiwan, but what we call the Bashi Channel, and then down into sort of, you know, a pushing
02:18toward the Batanes province.
02:21China's military posturing in the region has been constant. In March, Taiwan reported renewed
02:26large-scale Chinese military activity, calling the threat pressing.
02:30We need to have safe havens for them. There's only one airship over there. We need more than that.
02:36We need safe harbors.
02:38Philippines, US, and Japanese forces have also increased activity near the Bashi Channel, highlighting
02:43its strategic importance. Manila insists that the military bases on the islands are Philippine facilities,
02:49not US bases.
02:51Our sovereignty is non-negotiable. Our sovereignty should not be violated.
02:57Local officials say they're preparing contingency plans, similar to disaster response.
03:02Since we are the most dangerous island to that island in the north, we're preparing our contingency plans.
03:09For the fisherfolk of Idbayat, the question is not about resolving a geopolitical conflict,
03:15but the right to go out to sea and return home without fear.
03:18And we're going to see in the right to that island.
03:19We're going to see a great deck.
03:19We're all going to see in the next few seconds.
03:21See you again next time, on the other half.
03:21We're going to see on the island in the north.
03:22We're going to see you next time for the island of Bobaćĺ,
03:22You zwischen China's coastal coast with the property,
03:23and we're going to see you next time.
03:23We're going to hear you next time.
03:23You
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