2026年6月17日、台湾・蘭嶼のタオ族が伝統木造カヌーで20人が漕ぎ、約100km南のフィリピン・バタネス諸島に到着した。17 June 2026 — A traditional wooden canoe built by the Tao people of Orchid Island arrived in the Philippine archipelago of Batanes after a voyage of about 100 kilometers, with 20 rowers aboard.

The Ovayan, a traditional Tao wooden plank vessel, departed Orchid Island (Lanyu) on June 16, 2026, with 20 rowers aboard and arrived in the Batanes archipelago of the Philippines on the afternoon of June 17.

Orchid Island is a volcanic island about 62 kilometers southeast of Taiwan's main island, with a population of around 4,000. Batanes is the northernmost archipelago of the Philippines, roughly 100 kilometers south-southwest of Orchid Island. Shortly after departure the vessel met strong winds and rough seas near Little Orchid Island and had to be towed after water entered the boat. A second towing was required near Y'ami Island, the northernmost point of Batanes, where waves reached about four meters. No one was injured.

After emergency repairs, the Tao rowers paddled the vessel in to a welcome by about 300 Batanes residents, who greeted them as 'family from Lanyu.' The Tao and the Ivatan of Batanes historically maintained close ties until contact was severed roughly 300 years ago; their languages remain about 60 percent mutually intelligible. The Ovayan will be displayed in Batanes for six months before being rowed back to Orchid Island by Batanes residents next year.