Iwo Jima it’s not, but it is still important
The Armed Forces of the Philippines this weekend hoisted the Philippine flag in one of the five unoccupied islets in the Batanes group to “support the local government’s call for help to transform the islet into a resting place and shelter area for Filipino fishermen.”
The flag, raised on Y’ami Island’s Hill 200, was part of a three-day maritime domain awareness exercise in conjunction with volunteers from Luzon who are visiting the area to help with social and health issues. Also known as Mavulis, Diami, and Yami apparently, Y’ami is the northernmost island in the Philippines.
You can expect the rush to be-flag every atoll in the Western Pacific before this is all over.