Basco and Mavudis Islands, Batanes, Philippines
Updated May 19, 2025
The U.S. military deployed the Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) on Batan near the Bashi Channel, just south of Taiwan. Last year, the U.S. Army deployed missile systems (16 Standard Missile-6 and Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles) in the northern Philippine islands close to Scarborough Shoal during joint exercises. It is not known whether the U.S. Army systems remain with the US Marine Corp. NMESIS systems.
The U.S. military deployed the Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) on Batan near the Bashi Channel, just south of Taiwan. Last year, the U.S. Army deployed missile systems (16 Standard Missile-6 and Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles) in the northern Philippine islands close to Scarborough Shoal during joint exercises. It is not known whether the U.S. Army systems remain with the US Marine Corp. NMESIS systems.
Updated August 19, 2024
There is an island chain walking North to South from Taiwan to the Philippines, just east of the mountainous trench between those two countries, and dotted with natural, green islands. These islands are stormy, largely uninhabited, and strategically control this important access into the South China Sea east of mainland China.
Walking from North to South within the Philippines, we start with Y'Ami Island. Google Earth imagery from 2/22/2024 shows a natural, green island with a length of 1.35 miles. The next island is North Island with a length of 0.72 miles. Google Earth imagery is 4/1/2024.
There is an island chain walking North to South from Taiwan to the Philippines, just east of the mountainous trench between those two countries, and dotted with natural, green islands. These islands are stormy, largely uninhabited, and strategically control this important access into the South China Sea east of mainland China.
Walking from North to South within the Philippines, we start with Y'Ami Island. Google Earth imagery from 2/22/2024 shows a natural, green island with a length of 1.35 miles. The next island is North Island with a length of 0.72 miles. Google Earth imagery is 4/1/2024.
Google Earth satellite imagery from Taiwan to Philippines mainland, incorporating many Philippine islands. This channel is 227 miles from North to South.
Y'Ami Island, Philippines. Northernmost point of the Philippines and closest point to Taiwan. Google Earth imagery Top is 2/22/2024, bottom is 4/1/2024.
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North Island, just south of Y'Ami island, Google Earth 4/1/2024.
Appears to be a natural island with no structures.
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The next group of islands are called the Batan Islands, and are made up of Mavudis Island, Maysanga Island and Siayan Island. These look uninhabited, rocky and green, with some beautiful flat beaches and many rocky beaches. Google Images from 4/14/2024.
he island of Mavudis is a completely green and natural island. We see no visible signs of human habitation. We read that the Philippine Navy has a small garrison on the island in one shelter. Location: 20°55'56"N 121°54'56"E.
he island of Mavudis is a completely green and natural island. We see no visible signs of human habitation. We read that the Philippine Navy has a small garrison on the island in one shelter. Location: 20°55'56"N 121°54'56"E.
Google Earth 4/14/2024 Mavudis Island and Maysanga Island (Batan Islands). Also appear pristine without buildings.
Siayan Island, Philippines. 3D, North Orientation. Google Earth 4/14/2024. Note the sandy beaches with significantly rocky approaches. Looks uninhabited.
Ibayat Island, Philippines
Google imagery is mixed, with 1/12/2024, 1/30/2024, and 4/14/2024 and some locations shaded in green not specified. Location: 20°46'48"N 121°46'53"E. There is an airport, with a runway 0.67 miles long, and a mostly open-air layout. It is a 10.94 mile long island. It has multiple ports, and appears lightly developed with mostly tree and farm coverage and a winding road network. There is a central area of the island that is developed, with schools, parks and significant population.
Just to the east is Dinem Island, which is significantly smaller.
Google imagery is mixed, with 1/12/2024, 1/30/2024, and 4/14/2024 and some locations shaded in green not specified. Location: 20°46'48"N 121°46'53"E. There is an airport, with a runway 0.67 miles long, and a mostly open-air layout. It is a 10.94 mile long island. It has multiple ports, and appears lightly developed with mostly tree and farm coverage and a winding road network. There is a central area of the island that is developed, with schools, parks and significant population.
Just to the east is Dinem Island, which is significantly smaller.
Itbayat Island, Philippines via Google Earth, with satellite imagery from 1/12/2024 and more recent.
Batanes County is the northernmost point of the Philippines with a population of 18,000. It is a series of islands in the Bashi Channel, an access point into the South China Sea from the Western Pacific, and located approximately 125 miles from the main island of Taiwan.
Basco island is part of a Philippine island chain and is due south of Itbayat. Basco lies 125 miles SE of the southern tip of the Taiwan mainland and 135 miles NE of the Philippine mainland island of Luzon. It appears to be largely a hilly agricultural island. It has significant beaches around the island.
In satellite imagery by Google Earth partially updated as recently as 1/30/2024, we see Basco has an airport with a single 0.89 mile runway, including the extra paved areas at the end of each side of the runway (this was only 0.75 miles a few months prior). We see a few signs of defensive fortifications around the runway, including an open truck (possible AA module) and a fixed gun emplacement.
The western end of the airport abuts a major population area on the island, and an area near Batanes Provincial Capitol, State College and the national science high school.
The island is 11.7 miles in diameter. We do not see any port facilities except what looks like a local fishing and sport dock. Location: 20°20°28'09"N 121°53'39"E.
Basco island is part of a Philippine island chain and is due south of Itbayat. Basco lies 125 miles SE of the southern tip of the Taiwan mainland and 135 miles NE of the Philippine mainland island of Luzon. It appears to be largely a hilly agricultural island. It has significant beaches around the island.
In satellite imagery by Google Earth partially updated as recently as 1/30/2024, we see Basco has an airport with a single 0.89 mile runway, including the extra paved areas at the end of each side of the runway (this was only 0.75 miles a few months prior). We see a few signs of defensive fortifications around the runway, including an open truck (possible AA module) and a fixed gun emplacement.
The western end of the airport abuts a major population area on the island, and an area near Batanes Provincial Capitol, State College and the national science high school.
The island is 11.7 miles in diameter. We do not see any port facilities except what looks like a local fishing and sport dock. Location: 20°20°28'09"N 121°53'39"E.
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Copernicus Browser 5/12/2025, 20km resolution from Taiwan (N) to the Philippines (S) with all the Philippine Islands shown. False Color
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It is 363.5 km between Hengchun, Taiwan and Claveria, Philippines (mainland to mainland). All of these islands lie east of that meridian line.
There are no visible signs of construction of a new, deep-water, year-round civilian port facility in this satellite imagery of the Island of Basco.
Basco Island Overview, Google Earth last updated 12/31/2023.
Here is the major population center of Bosco, just west of the airport and South of San Antonio in Satellite imagery from 1/30/2024. We see a runway there, the Basco Airport, with a length of 0.79 miles including the extra portion.
Google Earth 1/30/2024. Basco airport.
Basco Island Population Center, just west of the Bosco airport. Google Earth satellite imagery 1/30/2024.
Just to the Southwest of Basco is another pair of islands.
Google Earth 12/30/2023 (east) and 1/25/2024 (west). We see Vohas Island and Sabtang island. Not much development is visible.
Breaking News Update, March 22, 2024: The Philippines will build the Batanes port with the Philippine Port Authority (PPA) funding. The United States and Japan will not be supporting the building of the port economically, as stated in Reuters here. This is now an internal Philippine matter.
Batanes County is the northernmost point of the Philippines with a population of 18,000. It is a series of islands in the Bashi Channel, an access point into the South China Sea from the Western Pacific, and located approximately 125 miles from the main island of Taiwan.
What we had read is that the U.S. military is in talks to develop a civilian port in Batanes on the island of Basco, in collaboration with Japan, and that both would have availability to the port facilities. According to numerous news sources, negotiations between the U.S., Japan and the Philippines continue (as of February 2024).
According to a Newsweek article (Sep 7 2023 b Brendan Cole), talks are led by Batanes Governor Marilou Cayco to gain foreign funding to build a port to provide cargo ships a safe place during rough seas in monsoon season. Mayor Cayco is also seeking funding for a new airport from the U.S. military. The existing port facilities in Batanes are inaccessible during rough weather...that it is a "fair weather" port. The new port on Basco Island would be available year-round. Source: Reuters. That same article stated that there are 150,000 filipinos living in Taiwan, and this island port could provide an evacuation path if tensions rise and fighting breaks out.
During KAMANDAG 7, a recent military exercise, elements of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) visited Batanes, and have visited at least two other times to liaise with local Philippine government and military teams. Source: U.S. Naval Institute article by Aaron-Matthew Lariose, January 8, 2024. The 31st MEU is a forward deployed force based in Okinawa, Japan.
Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. would be helpful in the event of a PRC invasion of ROC under the Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement between the US and the Philippines. This is following a 2023 decision by President Marcos Jr. to grant indefinite access to U.S. military forces to four Philippine military bases.
The more broad strategy between the U.S. and the Philippines was outlined in a 2023 US Department of Defence open source memorandum. It suggests significantly increased cooperation between the two countries, including investment in military bases and the development of a plan for the Philippines to acquire multi-role fighter jets.
According to news source newsinfo dot inquirer dot net, the Philippine Navy ship the PS-39 BRP Conrado Yap, a Pohang-class corvette, recently deployed fresh troops, supplies, civilians and government components to three Batanes islands, Mavulis, Itbayat and Basco. These were lightly populated islands. Mavulis is manned by a Philippine marine unit guarding a small shelter.
The news source cited the PS-39 Facebook page, which we visited on February 26, 2024 (here). The BRP Conrado Yap was named after Captain Conrado Yap, a Philippine Army Officer and winner of the Medal of Valor for his actions fighting the Communist Chinese in the Republic of Korea. His last words were "Steady On."
Batanes County is the northernmost point of the Philippines with a population of 18,000. It is a series of islands in the Bashi Channel, an access point into the South China Sea from the Western Pacific, and located approximately 125 miles from the main island of Taiwan.
What we had read is that the U.S. military is in talks to develop a civilian port in Batanes on the island of Basco, in collaboration with Japan, and that both would have availability to the port facilities. According to numerous news sources, negotiations between the U.S., Japan and the Philippines continue (as of February 2024).
According to a Newsweek article (Sep 7 2023 b Brendan Cole), talks are led by Batanes Governor Marilou Cayco to gain foreign funding to build a port to provide cargo ships a safe place during rough seas in monsoon season. Mayor Cayco is also seeking funding for a new airport from the U.S. military. The existing port facilities in Batanes are inaccessible during rough weather...that it is a "fair weather" port. The new port on Basco Island would be available year-round. Source: Reuters. That same article stated that there are 150,000 filipinos living in Taiwan, and this island port could provide an evacuation path if tensions rise and fighting breaks out.
During KAMANDAG 7, a recent military exercise, elements of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) visited Batanes, and have visited at least two other times to liaise with local Philippine government and military teams. Source: U.S. Naval Institute article by Aaron-Matthew Lariose, January 8, 2024. The 31st MEU is a forward deployed force based in Okinawa, Japan.
Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. would be helpful in the event of a PRC invasion of ROC under the Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement between the US and the Philippines. This is following a 2023 decision by President Marcos Jr. to grant indefinite access to U.S. military forces to four Philippine military bases.
The more broad strategy between the U.S. and the Philippines was outlined in a 2023 US Department of Defence open source memorandum. It suggests significantly increased cooperation between the two countries, including investment in military bases and the development of a plan for the Philippines to acquire multi-role fighter jets.
According to news source newsinfo dot inquirer dot net, the Philippine Navy ship the PS-39 BRP Conrado Yap, a Pohang-class corvette, recently deployed fresh troops, supplies, civilians and government components to three Batanes islands, Mavulis, Itbayat and Basco. These were lightly populated islands. Mavulis is manned by a Philippine marine unit guarding a small shelter.
The news source cited the PS-39 Facebook page, which we visited on February 26, 2024 (here). The BRP Conrado Yap was named after Captain Conrado Yap, a Philippine Army Officer and winner of the Medal of Valor for his actions fighting the Communist Chinese in the Republic of Korea. His last words were "Steady On."
Just to the south of those two islands above, and before we get to the mainland, there are four, small islands.
Four southernmost Balintang Channel Islands just north of the mainland.
2016, 2024 and 2024. Calayan Island is well populated with schools, churches and nice homes.
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