The Armed Forces of the Philippines on Friday denounced as “baseless” the claim by Chinese scholars that Batanes belongs to China, warning that the assertion could be part of Beijing’s broader expansionist strategy.
“We view this latest disinformation as salami slicing in the information domain,” said Rear Admiral (res.) Roy Vincent Trinidad, the AFP spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea.
At a symposium hosted by Jinan University in Guangzhou on June 30, Chinese scholars claimed that Batanes is part of China by way of Taiwan.
They argued that the Batanes Islands are a “natural geographical extension” of Taiwan, over which China claims sovereignty.
Trinidad said the assertion appeared to be part of an effort to create false historical and legal narratives that could later be used to justify territorial expansion.
“It is the systematic manufacturing of false historical and legal narratives intended to desensitize the international community, gradually alter the status quo and establish a pretext for future expansion,” Trinidad said.
He stressed that Philippine sovereignty over Batanes is long established and beyond dispute.
“It is absolutely clear that the Philippines’ sovereignty over Batanes is settled, indisputable, and non-negotiable,” Trinidad said.
He added that Batanes is an “integral part of our republic” and is “protected by international law and entrenched in our historic national boundaries.”
Trinidad said attempts by foreign malign actors to shape public perception and rewrite history must not go unanswered.
“Leaving these attacks on our cognitive domain unanswered allows revisionist history to take root,” he said.
“The AFP remains fully committed to protecting our cognitive domain, maintaining total maritime domain awareness and defending the territorial integrity of the country,” Trinidad added.