The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) has firmly rejected claims that Batanes belongs to China, describing the assertions as baseless, unsupported by credible historical evidence, and made in evident bad faith.

The statement came after reports that participants in an academic symposium at Jinan University in China claimed that Batanes is a natural geographic extension of Taiwan and should therefore fall under China's sovereignty.

According to the NHCP, these conclusions ignore established historical records, geographical evidence, and the long-standing exercise of Philippine sovereignty over the country's northernmost province.

The commission pointed to satellite and oceanographic data indicating that the continental shelf extends from Northern Luzon through the Babuyan and Batanes Islands before reaching parts of Taiwan, reinforcing the Philippines' territorial claim.

It also rejected assertions that Batanes was administered by the Taiwan Prefecture during the Ming and Qing dynasties, noting that historical accounts, including those of British explorer William Dampier in 1687, contain no evidence of Chinese governance over the islands.

Instead, the NHCP explained that the Ivatan people maintained organised communities and regional trade long before Spanish colonial authorities formally incorporated Batanes into Cagayan province in 1783.

Since then, Philippine governments have continuously exercised authority over the islands, including Batanes' representation in the Malolos Congress and its inclusion in succeeding Philippine administrations.

The NHCP also dismissed arguments related to Japan's surrender after World War II, stating that Japan could not return territory to China that already belonged to the Philippines, especially since the people of Batanes had liberated the islands in early 1945.The commission expressed solidarity with the Ivatan people and urged academic institutions to uphold integrity and good-faith research.

Other Philippine agencies, including the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of National Defense, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the National Security Council, likewise rejected the sovereignty claims and reaffirmed that Philippine sovereignty over Batanes is settled, indisputable, and non-negotiable.