Teodoro dismisses China's Batanes claims as 'baseless, ludicrous'

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Thursday called claims that the Batanes Islands belong to China, by way of Taiwan, as “baseless and ludicrous,” saying all academics should immediately debunk the theory. Teodoro said there is a danger that Chinese citizens believe the claims. “Sa kanilang closed society, sa tao nila, naniniwala ang mga tao nila dito. Brainwashed eh ang mga tao nila. So ito ay concerning kaso ito’y dapat labanan,” he said in an ambush interview. (In their closed society, their people believe these things. Their citizens have been brainwashed. So this is a concerning situation, and it is something that must be opposed.) “We should not allow this to go unresponded to. All academics in the world should douse cold water already on this theory. Kalokohan na ‘yan eh,” he added. (We should not allow this to go unresponded to. All academics in the world should douse cold water on this theory already. That is nonsense.) This comes amid reports that numerous researchers from Chinese universities and institutes declared that Manila’s control over Batanes supposedly lacks historical and legal basis. The scholars concluded that the Islands constitute a geographical extension of Taiwan, with sovereignty belonging to China. According to Teodoro, the study also validates his suspicion that China has plans to control the Pacific Ocean. “Signalling of a preconcenied intention already. HIndi din malayo na nasa plano nila ‘yan. And it also validates ‘yung sinasabi natin na they have the plan to control the whole Pacific Ocean, what is this for?” he said. (It signals a preconceived intention. It is also not far-fetched to think that this is part of their plan. And it also validates what we have been saying—that they have a plan to control the entire Pacific Ocean. What is this for?) Meanwhile, he said that their false claims will also strengthen the united action against “China’s irresponsible behavior.” “And sino ang sisisihin dito kapg nag karoon ng anti-China feeling. Sila lang dahil sa ginagawa nila, no?” he said. (And who will be to blame if anti-China sentiment develops? They will have only themselves to blame because of what they are doing.) “I mean, it’s— hindi na kapanipaniwala (it’s no longer believable),” he added. For his part, National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) spokesperson Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela echoed Teodoro’s remark. “Otherwise, kapag hindi natin pinatulan itong mga ganitong kasinungalingan, uulit-ulitin lang nila and they are going to rewrite history once again,” he said. (Otherwise, if we do not challenge these kinds of falsehoods, they will just keep repeating them, and they are going to rewrite history once again.) “Baka hindi natin alam, baka pati Ilog Pasig angkinin na rin ng China,” he added. (For all we know, China might even claim the Pasig River.) — RSJ, GMA News