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

Zen Hernandez

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 — 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><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 agency said. </p><div><em>More details to follow.</em></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 says Philippine sovereignty over Batanes ‘not up for debate’ despite Chinese ‘revisionist claims’

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DFA says Philippine sovereignty over Batanes ‘not up for debate’ despite Chinese ‘revisionist claims’

Zen Hernandez,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 10, 2026 10:31 AM PHT

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Updated July 10, 2026 10:52 AM PHT

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Batanes

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