Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. slammed China’s reported claim over Batanes, branding it “baseless” and “ludicrous.”
Teodoro warned it was alarming that some Chinese citizens believe such assertions due to “intense brainwashing.” He urged academics to immediately challenge what he called a “nonsensical” theory.
His remarks followed reports that Chinese scholars declared the Philippines has no legal or historical basis to control Batanes, portraying the province as merely an extension of Taiwan claimed by Beijing.
Teodoro said the claims reinforce suspicions of China’s broader plan to dominate the Pacific Ocean. He added that such false narratives will only strengthen collective action against Beijing’s “irresponsible behavior.”
National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) spokesperson Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela backed Teodoro, warning that if China’s falsehoods are left unchecked, they will be repeated to distort history. # (ZIA LUNA)
