A symposium in Guangzhou has reignited sovereignty disputes in the South China Sea after Chinese scholars claimed that the Philippines' northernmost province of Batanes constitutes a natural geographical extension of Taiwan and therefore belongs to China.
The assertion, made by academics at the event, marks a significant escalation in rhetorical pressure on Manila, moving beyond traditional maritime claims to challenge the territorial integrity of the Philippine archipelago itself.
The Philippines has swiftly rejected the claims, with Defence Minister Gilberto Teodoro Jr. dismissing the arguments as "baseless" and "ludicrous." This forceful rebuttal underscores the sensitivity of the issue in Manila, where any challenge to national territory is met with immediate diplomatic and political resistance.
The incident highlights the growing use of academic and historical narratives by Beijing to support its expansive territorial claims in the region.
This development occurs against a backdrop of heightened maritime activity and strategic posturing.
Recent reports indicate that a mainland Chinese research vessel conducted an oceanographic survey in the Philippine Sea east of Taiwan last month, prompting warnings from US military experts about potential submarine warfare preparations.