Philippines rejects China academics' Batanes claim

The Philippines rejected a statement by Chinese academics claiming the Batanes Islands, the country's northernmost islands, rightfully belonged to Beijing.

The Batanes Islands are fewer than 200 kilometres from self-ruled Taiwan, which China considers part of its territory. The islands have hosted joint Philippine-US military drills, including in April.

Jinan University in Guangdong said at the end of June that more than 10 scholars and experts at a symposium had determined the Batanes were geographically an extension of Taiwan. The university statement also disputed Manila's historical claim to the islands, which are home to fewer than 20,000 people.

Asked whether the statement reflected China's official position, Beijing's foreign ministry said it did not “comment on the views of the academic community”.

Philippine National Security Adviser Eduardo Oban said the claim had “no merit” and that Manila could not ignore how false narratives could be repeated to create ambiguity. The Philippine foreign affairs department said Manila's sovereignty over the Batanes was settled and not up for debate.

Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, the Philippine military's spokesman for the South China Sea, called the symposium's conclusions a form of “salami slicing”, a term used for China's alleged attempts to enlarge its territory through small steps.