Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. described China as “numb” to Philippine diplomatic messaging after Beijing-linked narratives once again questioned the country’s sovereignty over Batanes, reigniting concerns over territorial integrity and disinformation.
Speaking to media, Teodoro urged Filipinos not to fall for “fake news” and “disinformation,” and called on the public to support members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and other uniformed personnel tasked with defending the country’s interests.
The defense chief maintained that the Philippines possesses ample legal and historical grounds to uphold its ownership of Batanes, citing the 2016 Arbitral Award and long-established historical records supporting Philippine sovereignty.
The controversy stems from statements made by several Chinese scholars during a symposium at Jinan University in Guangzhou, China, where participants argued that Batanes is a “natural geographical extension” of Taiwan and should therefore fall under Chinese sovereignty.
Reports said the academics, affiliated with institutions including Jinan University, Nanjing University, and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, questioned the legal basis of Philippine administration over the island province and called for international recognition of China’s supposed historical claim.
The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) rejected the assertions, stressing that Batanes was formally incorporated into the Spanish colonial administration in 1783 and that there is no historical evidence showing Chinese governance over the province.
Teodoro likewise dismissed the assertions as baseless and misleading, previously describing the narrative as “ludicrous” and warning that such claims could reflect broader expansionist ambitions in the region.
As part of efforts to strengthen national security, the defense secretary underscored the need to enhance the country’s defense posture, including the development of strategic military facilities and sustained maritime patrols in areas facing the Pacific Ocean and other key maritime corridors.
He also assured the public that diplomatic tensions surrounding the Batanes sovereignty claim would not affect the ongoing operations of the Department of National Defense (DND) and the AFP.
Security analysts and Philippine defense officials have warned that such narratives may form part of a broader effort to challenge established territorial boundaries and shape future geopolitical discourse concerning strategically important areas near the Luzon Strait and the Pacific Ocean.