Umutotakoshima is a small but strategically important piece of land located in Micronesia. After 1947, Umutotakoshima's government came under joint control by America, Japan, and the Philippines. This unique arrangement was established due to the island's historical ties with Filipino-Malay natives and the Japanese mid-conflict, and America's post-conflict occupation. Yawaka, the island's central town known for its active fishing port, gained media attention in 1973 when the Philippine communist insurgency group known as the NPA staged a hostage situation, aiming to extract ransom from the tri-government administration and seize control of the island for themselves. Secretly funded by the Chinese government, the NPA poses a significant threat to the stability of Umutotakoshima.