The Island of Miangas is one of Indonesia's outermost islands that is situated on its northernmost border. The land area of the island covers approximately 3.15 square kilometers. Administratively, the entire island falls under the authority of Miangas Village, Miangas District, Talaud Islands Regency, North Sulawesi Province.
Geographically, Miangas is located in the Pacific Ocean. The distance from the island's landmass to Mindanao Island in the Southern Philippines is recorded at approximately 48 nautical miles. Meanwhile, the island’s distance to the capital of Talaud Islands Regency in Melonguane reaches 145 nautical miles.
Territorial Dispute Between the US and the Netherlands
According to historical records, Miangas Island was once a subject of dispute between the United States Government and the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The disagreement stemmed from the 1898 Treaty of Paris, in which Spain ceded the Philippine territory to the United States following its defeat in the Spanish-American War.
Based on the treaty, the United States included Miangas Island within the boundary lines of the Philippines based on maps of Spanish domain. The island had previously been named Isla de Palmas by Spanish colonizers.
However, the Dutch Government objected to the US claim. The Netherlands asserted that the island had long been under Dutch East Indies colonial administration through sovereign relations with the Tabukan Sultanate in the Sangihe Islands. Furthermore, Spain had never officially subjugated Miangas Island during its rule over the Philippines.
To resolve the territorial dispute, both nations agreed to refer the matter to the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague in 1925. The court appointed a Swiss legal expert, Max Huber, as the sole arbitrator to decide the ownership of the island.
During the arbitration proceedings, the Netherlands presented various pieces of evidence demonstrating its governance over Miangas Island. The evidence included tax collection records from residents by the Tabukan Sultanate on behalf of the Dutch East India Company (VOC) dating back to the 17th century, and records of periodic visits by Dutch colonial officials.
On the other hand, the United States relied solely on the succession of Philippine territorial rights from Spain as the basis for its claim, lacking any record of actual administrative control over the island.
On April 4, 1928, Max Huber delivered the arbitral award. He ruled in favor of the Netherlands by applying the principle of international law regarding the continuous and peaceful display of state authority.
Huber stated that title to a territory cannot rest merely on discovery or paper treaties, but must be demonstrated through the actual exercise of state functions. The decision legally confirmed Miangas Island as part of the Dutch East Indies territory until the end of the colonial era.
Miangas Island After Indonesian Independence
Following Indonesia's proclamation of independence on August 17, 1945, sovereign status over Miangas Island was transferred to the Republic of Indonesia as the successor state to the Dutch East Indies.
Due to its close geographic proximity to the Southern Philippines, the Government of Indonesia and the Government of the Philippines concluded a Border Crossing Agreement (BCA) in 1975.
Pursuant to the agreement, Miangas Island was designated as an official Border Crossing Entry and Exit Station. Under the framework, residents of Miangas and the Mindanao border region (such as Balut and Sarangani Islands) are permitted to cross the border and trade legally.
Life of the Community on Miangas Island
The majority of the population inhabiting Miangas Island belongs to the Talaud ethnic group. In daily activities, residents communicate using the local Talaud language (Miangas dialect) alongside Indonesian for formal purposes.
In addition to those two languages, some residents of Miangas Island also understand Tagalog due to geographic proximity and a history of cross-border interaction with the surrounding waters of the Southern Philippines.
The livelihoods of Miangas residents rely on marine resources and agriculture. Most of the inhabitants work as fishermen. In agriculture, residents cultivate coconut plantations to produce copra, which is then sold outside the island.
