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Guangzhou Symposium Discusses Batanes Islands
Scholars at a June 30 event hosted by Jinan University asserted that the Philippines’ northernmost province forms a natural extension of Taiwan. Philippine historians and officials rejected the claim, which followed a May maritime agreement between Manila and Tokyo.
Jul 13, 9:42 AM·1m read1 source
South China Morning PostAudio version
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Scholars at a June 30 symposium at Jinan University in Guangzhou stated that the Batanes islands constitute a natural geographical extension of Taiwan and therefore belong to China, South China Morning Post reported. The participants said the islands fall under Chinese sovereignty.
The symposium was convened after a May 28 joint statement in which the Philippines and Japan agreed to negotiate the delimitation of their exclusive economic zones and continental shelves, including areas east of Taiwan.
Symposium participants said that agreement infringed on China’s sovereignty. Philippine historians and officials rejected the scholars’ position. They disputed the reading of geography, dynastic administration, cultural links and post-war treaties.
A Philippine Coast Guard aircraft spotted a China Coast Guard ship off Sabtang island in Batanes in August 2025. Batanes is the Philippines’ northernmost province.
