MANILA, Philippines — Think tank Stratbase Institute urged the Philippine government to respond to a new claim that Batanes was “legally part” of Taiwan, warning against narratives that undermine the country’s territorial integrity.
This came after Chinese newspaper Global Times published an opinion piece on Sept. 3 titled “History shows that Batanes Islands do not belong to the Philippines.”
According to the article, the Batanes Islands “have been legally part of the Taiwan island” and that “there is no legal basis to suggest that Batanes Islands fall within the territorial boundaries of the Philippines.”
READ: Chinese academics claim Batanes belongs to China through Taiwan
Stratbase Institute President Victor Andres Manhit described the repetition of the claim as a “clear attempt to manufacture ambiguity where none exists” and urged the Philippine government not to allow such narratives to turn settled sovereignty concerns into a manufactured dispute.
“We urge the Philippine government to mount a firm, unified, and sustained response—through diplomacy, law, public information, and effective governance—to reject narratives that undermine the country’s territorial integrity,” Manhit said.
Reaffirming that Batanes is part of the Philippines and that its sovereignty is not up for debate, Manhit said that “an opinion piece cannot rewrite history, international agreements, or more than two centuries of continuous Philippine administration.”
READ: Chinese scholars’ Batanes claim has no basis, ‘a joke’ – Teodoro
A report published by Jinan University and aired by Guangdong-based news outlet Newsgf said participants of a symposium hosted by the university in Guangzhou, China, described the Batanes Islands as a “natural geographical extension” of Taiwan and asserted that sovereignty over the islands belongs to China.
The earlier report was condemned by Philippine authorities, including Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, who said the claim made by Chinese scholars had no basis and was a joke.
Manhit then called on Filipinos, particularly civil society organizations, media and the academe, “to stand united in defending the facts: Batanes is ours. False narratives must be met with vigilance, credible information, and national resolve.” /mcm
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