Mavulis Island

Older Batan natives also called the island Dimavulis or Dihami, meaning "north" in Ivatan. By some members of the Spanish colonial government it was called Diami, and it is known as Yami or Y'Ami on most American colonial-era maps of the Philippines. The latter should not be confused with the aboriginal Yami of Taiwan who live on islands farther north beyond Philippine territorial limits, but are geographically, culturally and linguistically related to the Ivatan people. The island is also called Amianan, meaning "north" in Ilocano.

File:Txu-oclc-6557994-index-456.jpg, 1950)]]

The island is part of the Luzon Volcanic Arc, and is located {{cvt|141|km|mi|sp=us}} southeast of the southern tip of Taiwan's main island and {{cvt|98|km}} to the nearest Taiwanese island, the "Lesser Orchid Island". The distance to Luzon is {{cvt|288|km|mi}}. The island is {{cvt|2.2|km}} long and up to {{convert|1|km|spell=in}} wide. The highest point, Y'Ami Hill, is {{convert|219|m|ft}} high. The island is rocky on the coasts but covered in lush vegetation, including mangrove, vuyavuy palms and other native shrubs. Coconut crabs are found on the island in large numbers.

In 2016, the Armed Forces of the Philippines Northern Luzon Command pushed for the establishment of a Marine detachment on Mavulis Island to affirm Philippines' sovereignty over the northernmost point of the archipelago. The Marine detachment was opened in 2018, with a fisherman's shelter completed in 2019 and turned over to the local municipality for maintenance and operation.{{cite web |last1=Alindogan |first1=Jamela |title=Why Philippines is building military base near Taiwan |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/videos/2019/06/02/why-philippines-is-building-military-base-near-taiwan/ |website=Al-Jazeera |publisher=Al-Jazeera |access-date=28 May 2021 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Martin |first1=Victor |title=Philippines establishes fishermen’s shelter in Batanes |url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/05/29/1921784/philippines-establishes-fishermens-shelter-batanes |access-date=28 May 2021 |work=Philstar.com |publisher=Philippine Star |date=29 May 2019}}

In May 2021, the Department of Defense of the Philippines announced the electrification of the island through a solar power station, with a back-up diesel generator. This was done through the help of the One Meralco Foundation. The DND also announced the commissioning of a desalination plant to provide potable water to personnel assigned to the island.{{cite web |title=Desalination plant installed in PH’s northernmost outpost |url=https://www.dnd.gov.ph/Postings/Post/Desalination%20plant%20installed%20in%20PH%E2%80%99s%20northernmost%20outpost/ |website=Department of Defense |publisher=Department of Defense of the Philippines |access-date=28 May 2021}}

In October 2023, the Armed Forces of the Philippines inaugurated a new naval detachment as headquarters for military troops on the Island. "This island underscores the strategic importance of this detachment. It serves as our watchful sentinel in the northernmost beaches of our maritime borders, ensuring the security and sovereignty of our homeland," Fernyl G. Buca, AFP Northern Luzon Command said.{{cite news |last1= |first1= |title=AFP inaugurates naval detachment on Batanes' Mavulis Island|url= https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/regions/885604/afp-inaugurates-naval-detachment-on-batanes-mavulis-island/story/|accessdate=March 11, 2024 |publisher= GMA Integrated News|date=October 18, 2023}}

In 2024, there had been plans of upgrading several civilian ports in the Batanes Island chain, including Mavulis Island, to accommodate the unloading of more cargo from Manila and as preparation for possible contingencies that may arise should Filipino workers in Taiwan would repatriate in the event of a China-Taiwan conflict. {{cite web |title=Batanes seaport to be funded by US |url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2024/03/12/2339913/batanes-seaport-be-funded-us |website=www.philstar.com |access-date=12 March 2024}} {{cite web |title=Philippines to build new islands port near Taiwan without U.S. help, governor says |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/philippines-build-new-islands-port-near-taiwan-without-us-help-governor-says-2024-03-22/ |website=Reuters |access-date=22 March 2024}} Mavulis Island itself has been one of many frequent locations for the joint US-Philippines military training exercises called Balikatan held annually.{{cite web |title=U.S. and Philippine Forces Defend Island Chain Near Taiwan in Balikatan 2024 Exercise |url=https://news.usni.org/2024/05/09/u-s-and-philippine-forces-defend-island-chain-near-taiwan-in-balikatan-2024-exercise |website=USNI News |access-date=9 May 2024}} {{cite web |title=Philippine Island Facing Taiwan Eyed for Next Exercises With US |url=https://thedefensepost.com/2024/01/31/philippine-island-taiwan-exercises/ |website=thedefensepost.com |access-date=31 January 2024}}

File:Philippine Island - Batan Islands - NARA - 68156384.jpg|Aerial view of the island, 1935

File:Desalination Water Toast by Philippine government officials.jpg|Sec. Delfin Lorenzana leads a toast of the water produced by the desalination plant at Mavulis Island.

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Category:Islands of Batanes

Category:Uninhabited islands of the Philippines