The National Security Council (NSC) on Friday rejected as baseless claims by Chinese scholars that Batanes belongs to China, stressing that the province is an "integral and indivisible" part of the Philippines.

"We view with serious concern reports that Chinese scholars are advancing the notion that Batanes belongs to China. There is no ambiguity on this matter: Batanes is an integral and indivisible part of the Republic of the Philippines," National Security Adviser Eduardo Oban Jr. said in a statement.

Oban said the claim has "no merit" but warned that repeatedly spreading false narratives could create the illusion of a dispute where none exists.

"There is no dispute to settle, no claim to negotiate, and no ambiguity to resolve," he said.

He added that the Philippines would not allow "manufactured history to become manufactured rights" or permit "a fabricated dispute to take root over what is unquestionably ours."

The statement came as the country marks the 10th anniversary of the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award.

Meanwhile, Armed Forces of the Philippines special spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad (Ret.) described the claim as part of a "salami slicing" strategy in the information domain.

"We view this latest disinformation as salami slicing in the information domain. It is the systematic manufacturing of false historical and legal narratives intended to desensitize the international community, gradually alter the status quo, and establish a pretext for future expansion," Trinidad said.

He stressed that Philippine sovereignty over Batanes is "settled, indisputable, and non-negotiable."

"The AFP remains fully committed to protecting our cognitive domain, maintaining total maritime domain awareness, and defending the territorial integrity of the country," he added.

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. also reiterated the need for a strong response, saying the claim violates not only international law and the Philippine Constitution but also "normal thinking."