Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Friday said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will expand patrols across the country’s maritime areas after Chinese scholars claimed that Batanes belongs to China.
He said the government would strengthen its presence to protect Philippine sovereignty and dismissed the claim as baseless and contrary to international law.
National Security Adviser Eduardo Año Oban Jr. also rejected the assertion, stressing that Batanes is an integral and indisputable part of the Philippines with no claim open for negotiation.
The AFP likewise denounced the statement as a state-backed disinformation campaign aimed at creating false narratives to justify future territorial expansion.
Source: PhilNews24 | July 11, 2026
TEODORO DIRECTS INCREASED PATROLS AS PH REJECTS BATANES CLAIM
Latest from News
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) formally received two 27-meter Marine Protector-class patrol vessels from the United
The Marcos administration is proposing P142.95 billion for military and uniformed personnel pensions in 2027, up
The DSWD has placed its Disaster Response Command Center on blue alert as it monitors Tropical
The Philippine Psychiatric Association and Philippine Society for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry urged DepEd to defer
Major internet service providers are strengthening online safety measures by blocking websites that promote violence and