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Advocates Philippines
Batanes Lawmaker Rejects China's Claim Over Philippine Province
Photo credit: DOT
Batanes Representative Ciriaco B. Gato Jr. has firmly rejected recent claims made during an academic symposium in China suggesting that Batanes is a natural extension of Taiwan and should belong to China.
In a statement released on July 10, Gato stressed that Batanes is, and has always been, a province of the Republic of the Philippines. He also emphasized that the Ivatan people are Filipinos, saying this is a fact rooted in history, upheld by the country's Constitution and laws, and reflected in the identity of the people of Batanes.
The lawmaker said any attempt to question or weaken the Philippines' sovereignty over the province is being taken seriously. According to him, such claims go beyond geopolitical issues and directly challenge the identity of the Ivatan people.
Gato reaffirmed that the people of Batanes have never wavered in their loyalty, declaring that their allegiance remains with the Republic of the Philippines—now and always.
In a statement released on July 10, Gato stressed that Batanes is, and has always been, a province of the Republic of the Philippines. He also emphasized that the Ivatan people are Filipinos, saying this is a fact rooted in history, upheld by the country's Constitution and laws, and reflected in the identity of the people of Batanes.
The lawmaker said any attempt to question or weaken the Philippines' sovereignty over the province is being taken seriously. According to him, such claims go beyond geopolitical issues and directly challenge the identity of the Ivatan people.
Gato reaffirmed that the people of Batanes have never wavered in their loyalty, declaring that their allegiance remains with the Republic of the Philippines—now and always.
Jul 10, 2026
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