Jamaine Punzalan

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

Article (news)

DOT PEP at Batanes

Bianca Dava

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/178851376662920250326-batanes-dot-MD-11.jpg" style="width: 960px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align: left;">The Department of Tourism&#39;s Philippine Experience Program takes delegates to the province of Batanes, &nbsp;March 26, 2025. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA &mdash; The Department of National Defense (DND) on Friday condemned a Chinese state media article claiming that Batanes does not belong to the Philippines.</p><p>The statement followed a September 3 opinion piece published by China&rsquo;s state-run Global Times titled &ldquo;History shows that Batanes Islands do not belong to the Philippines.&rdquo;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/30/china-laying-groundwork-for-scarborough-shoal-takeover-possible-batanes-claim-says-ex-us-officer-1605">China laying groundwork for Scarborough Shoal takeover, possible Batanes claim &mdash; ex-US officer&nbsp;</a></div><p>The article, written by Wang Yuanyuan, an assistant research fellow at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies - Center for South China Sea History and Culture, argued that Batanes was historically and legally part of Taiwan, and that there was no legal basis for including the islands within Philippine territory.</p><p>The Global Times piece further claimed that Chinese people had lived on Batanes &ldquo;since ancient times&rdquo; and that residents of the islands shared historical and cultural links with Taiwan.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/14/afp-warns-china-s-silence-on-batanes-claim-may-become-official-party-stance-1650">AFP warns China&rsquo;s silence on Batanes claim may become official party stance&nbsp;</a></div><p>In response, the DND described the article as &ldquo;state-sponsored propaganda&rdquo; and said it was another example of China spreading distorted narratives around the world.</p><p>The department also stressed that Batanes and other Philippine territories had never been part of China, and vowed to reject any attempt to undermine the country&rsquo;s sovereignty and territorial integrity.</p><p>&ldquo;Mariing kinukundena ng Department of National Defense ang state-sponsored propaganda na nag-aangking bahagi ng Tsina ang Batanes. Patunay lamang ito sa patuloy na pagpapakalat ng Tsina ng mga baluktot na naratibo sa buong mundo,&rdquo; the DND said in a statement.</p><p>&ldquo;Hindi kailanman naging bahagi ng Tsina ang Batanes o anumang lugar sa Pilipinas, at kailanman ay hindi natin hahayaan ang anumang pagtatangka sa soberanya at teritoryo ng Republika ng Pilipinas,&rdquo; it added.&nbsp;</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 claim&nbsp;</a><br><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/10/dfa-says-philippine-sovereignty-over-batanes-not-up-for-debate-1031">DFA: Philippine sovereignty over Batanes &#39;not up for debate&#39;; NHCP rejects Chinese claims&nbsp;</a></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/ba_CjIWFg9Q?&wmode=opaque&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?&wmode=opaque&rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br></div>

<p>The Department of National Defense (DND) on Friday condemned a Chinese state media article claiming that Batanes does not belong to the Philippines. </p>

The Department of National Defense (DND) on Friday condemned a Chinese state media article claiming that Batanes does not belong to the Philippines.

DND condemns new Chinese claim that Batanes is not part of Philippines

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DND condemns new Chinese claim that Batanes is not part of Philippines

Bianca Dava,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 04, 2026 05:25 PM PHT

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