Philippines DND slams China's 'state-sponsored propaganda' on Batanes claim

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines’ Department of National Defense (DND) on Friday, September 4, condemned “state-sponsored propaganda” that claims Batanes is part of China. “This is further proof that China continues to push a false narrative,” the DND said in a statement. The DND, which has administrative oversight of the Philippine military, among the frontliners in Manila’s defense of its maritime rights and entitlements, added, “Neither Batanes nor any other part of the Philippines has been part of China. We will not allow any attempts to violate the sovereignty and territory of the Philippines.” The opinion piece published in the Global Times, a tabloid linked to the Chinese Communist Party, claimed that the Batanes Islands were “excluded” in treaties that defined the Philippines following colonization. It also cited “illegal United States expansion” and supposed “historical and cultural ties to Taiwan” as the basis for its claim that Batanes is part of China. Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela, also criticized the opinion piece. “Manufacturing a dispute where none exists does not create one. It only tells us what Beijing intends,” said Tarriela, who has been vocal against China’s encroachments in the West Philippine Sea and its disinformation operations against the Philippines. The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) has also denied the claims made by the Chinese scholar. The NHCP noted that Batanes is not an extension of Taiwan, but rather a continuous shelf extending from Northern Luzon through the Babuyan and Batanes Islands, giving the Philippines a greater claim. The commission emphasized that Batanes’ history is Filipino, with no trace of Chinese governance found in historical records, and that the islands have been under Philippine government sovereignty since the Spanish colonial era, with elected representatives in the national legislature. Batanes holds strategic importance due to its proximity to Taiwan and its location in the critical Bashi Channel. The Philippine military has been enhancing its facilities and presence in Batanes in recent years, recognizing its strategic value, especially in the context of potential Chinese military action towards Taiwan. Source: Rappler Philippines