AFP to China: Reject Batanes claim, warns silence could make it official

MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Monday called on the Chinese Embassy in Manila and China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to publicly reject a claim by Chinese scholars that Batanes is part of Taiwan and, by extension, China, warning that Beijing’s continued silence could allow the assertion to become an official government position. AFP spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad (Reserve) said the military “categorically dismisses and rejects” the scholars’ claim, describing it as an attempt at “malign influence” and “salami slicing in the information domain.” READ: Chinese scholars’ Batanes claim has […]... Keep on reading: AFP to China: Reject Batanes claim, warns silence could make it official