Teodoro rejects China’s assertions over Batanes sovereignty
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro rejected Beijing’s assertions questioning the Philippines’ historical sovereignty over the Batanes Islands on November 7, 2026, describing China as numb to diplomatic messaging. ABS-CBN News reported that the defense chief dismissed direct appeals to Beijing while urging Filipinos to remain resilient against foreign disinformation.
The latest diplomatic friction revives a controversy sparked on June 30 during an academic symposium at Jinan University in Guangzhou, China. Chinese scholars argued at the event that the northernmost Philippine province of Batanes serves as a natural geographical extension of Taiwan and should fall under Chinese sovereignty.
The National Historical Commission of the Philippines previously rejected those academic claims. Historical records show that the Spanish colonial administration formally incorporated Batanes in 1783, and archives contain no evidence of prior Chinese governance.
Rejecting Beijing Claims With Legal Awards
Teodoro maintained that the Philippines holds sufficient legal and historical grounds to defend its position against Beijing’s assertions. He pointed to the arbitral award as proof.
Resisting these narratives requires increased deterrence and resilience, according to the defense chief. He warned that unchecked misinformation could become accepted as fact or reality.
China has used similar narratives against other countries.
Securing Pacific Coastlines Against Threats
Beyond diplomatic pushback, Teodoro outlined plans to establish strategic military bases along the country’s Pacific-facing coastline. Securing these maritime zones requires putting up strategic bases where the Philippines currently lacks them.
Building these strategic bases will take time as the government lays initial groundwork.
Despite ongoing diplomatic initiatives and the approaching Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit, Teodoro assured that regional talks would not affect the defense department’s and the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ operations.