MANILA — Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. has dismissed as unfounded a claim made by several Chinese academics that the Philippine province of Batanes belongs to China because it is allegedly a geographical extension of Taiwan.
Speaking on the sidelines of the National West Philippine Sea Summit in Pasay City on Thursday, Teodoro described the assertion as “ludicrous” and said it reflects what Manila has long believed to be Beijing’s broader strategic ambitions in the region.
“It confirms what we have been saying—that there are plans to expand control beyond the West Philippine Sea and extend influence across the Pacific,” Teodoro told reporters.
The controversial claim emerged during a June 30 symposium at Jinan University in Guangzhou attended by scholars from several Chinese research institutions. According to a report by a Guangdong state-linked media outlet, participants argued that the Philippines has neither historical nor legal grounds to administer Batanes and claimed the province falls under China’s sovereignty because Taiwan is considered part of the People’s Republic of China.
Teodoro rejected the argument outright, stressing that it has no legal or historical foundation. He warned that such narratives could indicate China’s long-term intentions involving the Philippines’ northern waters.
The Department of Foreign Affairs also dismissed the scholars’ position, saying the Philippines would not recognize revisionist claims over its territory. The agency maintained that Philippine sovereignty over Batanes is firmly established and not open to debate.
Former Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad, a native of Batanes and former congressional representative of the province, likewise criticized the claim, calling it devoid of historical and legal merit. He said the argument appears intended to justify China’s continued maritime activities within Philippine waters.
Abad noted that while the Ivatan people share cultural and ancestral ties with the Tao community of Taiwan’s Orchid Island, such links do not affect Philippine sovereignty over Batanes. He also pointed out that Spain formally incorporated the islands into the Philippines in 1783 before they later became a separate province.
Teodoro expressed concern that repeated promotion of such narratives within China could influence public perception and urged scholars worldwide to challenge what he described as misleading historical claims.
During his keynote address at the summit marking the 10th anniversary of the 2016 arbitral ruling on the South China Sea, Teodoro emphasized the need for the Philippines to maintain a credible defense posture while pursuing diplomacy. He also cautioned that existing disputes must first be addressed before meaningful relations with Beijing can be strengthened.
Maritime law expert Jay Batongbacal also criticized the scholars’ position, saying it appears to be part of a broader effort to support China’s strategic interests near Taiwan and the Bashi Channel. He warned that the narrative could serve as a legal and political justification for future Chinese actions in the area.
US-based maritime transparency group SeaLight likewise suggested that the symposium reflects China’s use of “lawfare”—the promotion of legal and academic arguments to reinforce its maritime claims—even though Beijing has yet to formally adopt the scholars’ conclusions.
elamigo/xf
