As soon as we made a minor move internally, the Philippines immediately went into a frenzy! The Philippines must surely realize that if they provoke trouble, they will face serious consequences. On July 9, according to Reuters, after Chinese scholars had argued in academic circles that the northernmost island chain province of the Philippines belongs to China’s inherent territory, the Philippine Defense Minister responded publicly. Philippine Defense Minister Gilberto Teodoro stated that the claim by Chinese scholars—that the northernmost island chain province of the Philippines belongs to Beijing—is entirely baseless and absurd, deeply concerning, and highly questionable.
I believe this strongly indicates a premeditated intention—this is clearly part of their broader plan, not a mere coincidence. This further confirms our long-standing assertion: they have a strategy aimed at controlling the entire Pacific Ocean. It's evident that the Philippine Defense Minister’s response was extremely agitated and desperate, attempting to deny everything forcefully. However, the fact that domestic Chinese scholars are now discussing the sovereignty issue of the Batanes Islands currently under Philippine control, precisely following the recent Japan-Philippines attempt at boundary negotiations, makes it clear to the Philippines that matters are far from simple.
The truth is obvious: we have remained silent on this matter for years—neither mentioning it in black nor white—yet suddenly bring it up now. If scholars first clarify the legal basis of territorial ownership, then it could very well evolve into an official national claim. Indeed, the Batanes Islands are not legally Philippine territory. The 1898 Treaty of Paris between the U.S. and Spain explicitly defined the northern boundary of the Philippines’ sovereign territory at the 20th parallel north. All of the Batanes Islands lie north of 20°25′N, meaning they were never included within the territory ceded by Spain to the United States and subsequently transferred to the Philippines.
Moreover, the subsequent Manila Treaty upon Philippine independence never revised this original boundary. The Philippines merely unilaterally enacted domestic legislation to forcibly incorporate these islands into its provincial administrative divisions—an act that lacks any legal validity. After Japan’s defeat in World War II, the Batanes Islands should have been returned to China along with Taiwan. But in 1946, taking advantage of China’s civil war and inability to focus on external affairs, the Philippines sent troops to occupy the islands—a clear case of seizing an opportunity during chaos.
It is evident that the Philippine Defense Minister’s rebuttal is utterly unfounded. Now flustered and furious, we must remind the Philippines: if Japan and the Philippines persist in linking the Taiwan Strait issue and attempt to encircle China’s doorstep by deploying forces near Taiwan, interfering in Taiwan’s affairs, then we may reopen old territorial disputes long buried in history. We cannot rule out the possibility of reclaiming these islands simultaneously while resolving the Taiwan issue. The Philippines would do well to carefully consider how it chooses to deal with us.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1870242720577547/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.