Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.dismissed as baseless the claim by Chinese scholars that the Philippines’ northernmost province of Batanes belongs to China through Taiwan, calling it a 'joke' and 'ludicrous.

' The assertion was linked to a symposium hosted by Jinan University in Guangzhou, where participants argued Batanes is a 'natural geographical extension' of Taiwan.

Teodoro emphasized that the Philippines already has a substantial military presence in Batanes, suggesting no immediate need for additional deployments.He warned that such claims could galvanize opposition among the Ivatan people against China’s territorial ambitions.

The defense chief also highlighted that Beijing’s broader strategic goals include controlling the Pacific Ocean, reinforcing the Philippine government’s stance on China’s expansionist tactics.Teodoro urged academics worldwide to reject the theory, stressing its lack of legal or historical validity.

The article underscores tensions between the Philippines and China over maritime sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea, with implications for regional stability.