Talaud Islands Throwdown

Indonesia vs. Philippines Date/Time: 29 April, 2021/ 14:59:00 Local Time Location: Southern Mindanao, Talaud Islands Duration: 6 Hours Playable Sides: Indonesia Situation On 11 February 2021, an explosive device planted by the Islamo-seperatist group MNLF kills 23 people in the Philippine city of Zamboanga. Local authorities trace the origin of the explosives used in the attack to an Indonesian-flagged fishing vessel in port, which cuts anchor and flees. The Philippine Coast Guard engages in a brief chase with the vessel, and in an ensuing boarding action two coast guard officers and nine Indonesian nationals are killed, souring relations between the two nations. With tensions running high, the Philippine navy conducts a series of aggressive naval patrols in the Celebes Sea over the next several months. The situation worsens when - after several failed diplomatic talks - the Philippino government orders the detention and search of any Indonesian vessels "in, approaching, and around" Philippino territorial waters. Indonesia issues no response, and begins to tenatively deploy military units to the region as a show of force. Flashpoint Just over 20 hours ago, a group of armed men stormed and occupied the main radio station on the island of Karatung, cutting communications between the Talaud Islands and Indonesia proper–local reconnaissance now reports that an armed Philippine cutter is enaged in unknown activity off the coast of the island. In light of the situation, the Indonesian military prepares to take retaliatory action.