Teodoro rejects China claim on Batanes

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. branded as “disinformation” and “outlandish narratives” claims by Chinese scholars that Batanes is part of China, warning that such assertions could signal Beijing’s broader strategic ambitions in the region.

Speaking at the National West Philippine Sea Summit in Pasay City, which was held to mark the 10th anniversary of the landmark July 12, 2016 Arbitral Award, Teodoro dismissed the historical claims as fabricated narratives being promoted in a tightly controlled society.

“Today, significantly, we see the disinformation in the guise of historical scholarship in a closed society, namely China, once again spewing out false narratives in our northern area,” he said.

In a chance interview with reporters, Teodoro said the claims appear to be another attempt by China to justify future actions.

“And it also validates what we are saying that they have a plan to control the whole Pacific Ocean,” he said, adding that the narratives likely serve as “signaling a preconceived intention already.”

In a separate statement, the Defense chief reaffirmed the Philippines’ commitment to upholding international law and protecting the country’s maritime rights and entitlements in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Teodoro stressed that defending the country’s maritime domain begins with educating Filipinos about the nation’s territorial rights, including the WPS, the Kalayaan Island Group, the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), and its extended continental shelf.

“There should be increasing awareness and ownership of the WPS, Kalayaan Island Group, our EEZ, and extended continental shelf in an increasingly granular manner. Such knowledge and awareness must be cascaded heavily so that it forms part of the psyche of our normal citizen,” he said.

He added that awareness alone is insufficient, saying Filipinos must embrace the country’s maritime territory as a shared national responsibility.

“I was looking for a Filipino term to capture the spirit of knowledge. Ownership is not enough. It’s pagyakap (embrace). You embrace because you have ownership. You steward, you nurture, and you protect. Yakap denotes a special bond, like a parent with a child,” Teodoro said.

The Defense chief emphasized that safeguarding the country’s maritime rights is an investment for future generations and requires sustained national commitment.

He also underscored the importance of strengthening cooperation with like-minded nations to preserve a rules-based international order and counter unilateral efforts to alter the regional security landscape.

“We need adherents, we need co-actors, and, for lack of a better term, co-investors, to resist any unilateral attempt to reshape the international order for the unilateral and selfish advantage of a leadership,” Teodoro said.