Batanes will not yield 'even an inch,' Army official says

GAMU, Isabela, Philippines — The Philippines will not surrender “even an inch” of Batanes, which remains under the country’s sovereignty and jurisdiction, a top Army official said on Friday, July 10.

Brig. Gen. Romualdo Raymund Landingin, assistant commander of the Philippine Army’s 5th Infantry Division (5ID), made the statement during the oath-taking and fellowship of the 5ID Press Corps at Camp Melchor Dela Cruz here.

Landingin reaffirmed the government’s position after Chinese academics claimed during a symposium in June that the Batanes island group is a natural geographical extension of Taiwan and therefore belongs to China.

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READ: Chinese academics claim Batanes belongs to China through Taiwan

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“The sovereignty of Batanes is settled and is not open to debate,” Landingin said, echoing the Philippine government’s rejection of what it described as baseless claims.

Batanes, the country’s northernmost and least populous province, is part of the Cagayan Valley region. Provincial records show it had a population of 18,937 as of the 2024 census, with a population density of about 94 people per square kilometer.

Earlier, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. dismissed the scholars’ assertions as “ludicrous” and “a joke,” warning that such narratives reflect Beijing’s broader geopolitical ambitions in the Pacific.

READ: Teodoro on Chinese scholars’ Batanes claim: It’s a joke

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The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) likewise rejected the claims, calling them “flights of fancy” that run contrary to international law and established norms.

The DFA has said the symposium forms part of China’s so-called “lawfare” strategy, which seeks to build legal and political narratives to justify future military or law enforcement actions in the strategically important Bashi Channel. Located just south of Taiwan, Batanes has become a key area in the Philippines’ security planning and maritime partnerships.

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Landingin also urged journalists covering the 5th Infantry Division to continue reporting on issues involving Philippine sovereignty, particularly in Batanes.

“Media engagement is an essential part of our mission. The success of our operations is measured not only by what we accomplish on the ground but also by how well the public understands the purpose, direction and impact of our actions,” he said.

He stressed that communities deserve information that is “accurate, timely, responsible and credible.”

“As we sustain the gains of stable internal peace and security in Northern Luzon and transition from internal security operations to territorial defense operations, we need partners who will help communicate facts, explain realities and deepen public understanding of the country’s security environment,” Landingin said.

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He added that the media serves as a vital bridge between the military and the public, helping ensure that communities are well informed and stakeholders remain engaged in the country’s efforts to preserve peace and protect its sovereignty. /dl