MANILA, Philippines — The “repeated resurrection” of China’s false claims over Batanes is a “clear attempt to manufacture ambiguity” about the Philippines’ sovereignty over its northernmost province, think tank Stratbase Institute said on Sunday.
In a statement, Stratbase Institute president Victor Andres “Dindo” Manhit condemned an opinion piece published by China’s state-run Global Times, which claimed the Philippines “unilaterally brought Batanes Islands under its jurisdiction.”
“Batanes is Philippine territory, its people are Filipinos, and its sovereignty is settled and not up for debate,” Manhit said.
“An opinion piece cannot rewrite history, international agreements, or more than two centuries of continuous Philippine administration,” he added.
According to Manhit, the repetition of this claim is a “clear attempt to manufacture ambiguity where none exists.”
He also urged the Philippine government to “not allow such repetition to turn a settled matter of sovereignty into a manufactured dispute.”
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“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.
“At the same time, we call on Filipinos, civil society, media, and academe to stand united in defending the facts: Batanes is ours. False narratives must be met with vigilance, credible...
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