Jamaine Punzalan

The Department of Tourism's Philippine Experience Program takes delegates to the province of Batanes, first in sites in Batan Island on March 26, 2025. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File

Article (news)

DOT PEP at Batanes

Chalssea Kate Echegoyen

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178365051326620250326-batanes-dot-MD-9.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The Department of Tourism&#x27;s Philippine Experience Program takes delegates to the province of Batanes, first in sites in Batan Island on March 26, 2025. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA (UPDATED) – The Department of Foreign Affairs on Friday asserted that Philippine sovereignty over Batanes is “not up for debate” after a Chinese symposium reportedly concluded that the province belongs to China through Taiwan.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/9/china-symposium-sparks-concern-over-reported-batanes-claim-1617">Batanes belongs to China? Symposium sparks concern over reported claims</a></div><p>&quot;The Philippines&#x27; sovereignty over Batanes is settled and not up for debate. The Philippines will not entertain revisionist claims over its territory and calls on so-called scholars to focus their energies on genuine, good-faith studies of the region,&quot; the DFA said.</p><p>The agency issued the response after reports emerged that participants in an academic symposium held at Jinan University on June 30 claimed that the Batanes Islands are a &quot;natural geographic extension&quot; of Taiwan and argued that China should exercise sovereignty over the islands.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;LACKING HISTORICAL, LEGAL BASIS&#x27;</strong></div><p>The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) on Friday also strongly rejected the claims, describing them as lacking historical and legal basis.</p><p>In a statement, the NHCP said the claims &quot;have no rational basis in substantive research&quot; and resemble similar social media narratives circulated in 2025 regarding Palawan. The commission added that such arguments &quot;would never stand under scrutiny in academic discourse outside of the People&#x27;s Republic of China.&quot;</p><p>The NHCP disputed the symposium&#x27;s assertion that Batanes was historically under the jurisdiction of Taiwan during the Ming and Qing dynasties, saying available archaeological and historical evidence does not support any record of Chinese governance over the islands.</p><p>Citing historical records, the commission said British explorer William Dampier&#x27;s 1687 account documented the Ivatan people living in organized communities with no evidence of Chinese administration. </p><p>It also noted that Spain formally incorporated Batanes into the Province of Cagayan in 1783 and that successive Philippine governments have exercised continuous sovereignty over the islands since then.</p><p>The commission further said that Batanes was represented during the Malolos Congress and has remained an integral part of the Philippines through every succeeding national government. </p><p>It added that the province liberated itself from Japanese occupation in early 1945, countering claims that post-World War II treaties required Japan to return Batanes to China.</p><p>“This only proves beyond any doubt that Batanes has always been Filipino,” the statement added.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>GEOGRAPHICAL ARGUMENT</strong></div><p>The NHCP also challenged the geographical argument raised by the Chinese scholars, citing satellite and oceanographic data that it said show a continuous continental shelf extending from Northern Luzon through the Babuyan and Batanes Islands into parts of Taiwan, which it argued further supports the Philippines&#x27; claim from a geographic perspective.</p><p>“The NHCP stands with the People of Batanes in proclaiming their right of allegiance to the Philippines, faithful to our constitution and the flag that continues to proudly fly over our northern provinces,” the NHCP said.</p><p>“We also call on all parties, especially reputable academic institutions, to be true researchers and academics. Knowledge can only be true if grounded on good faith. No amount of  fabrication will erase the truths of our past,” the statement added. <em>- with a report from Zen Hernandez, ABS-CBN News</em></p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/P7_VNj8k-mc?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-wLeRhSe6UE?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div>

<p>The Department of Foreign Affairs on Friday asserted that Philippine sovereignty over Batanes was “not up for debate” after a Chinese symposium reportedly concluded that the province belongs to China through Taiwan.</p>

The Department of Foreign Affairs on Friday asserted that Philippine sovereignty over Batanes was “not up for debate” after a Chinese symposium reportedly concluded that the province belongs to China through Taiwan.

DFA: Philippine sovereignty over Batanes 'not up for debate'; NHCP rejects Chinese claims

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DFA: Philippine sovereignty over Batanes 'not up for debate'; NHCP rejects Chinese claims

Chalssea Kate Echegoyen,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 10, 2026 10:31 AM PHT

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Updated July 10, 2026 02:45 PM PHT

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