The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Friday rejected claims by Chinese scholars that Batanes falls under Chinese sovereignty, insisting that the Philippines' ownership of the northernmost province is settled and beyond dispute.

"Flights of fancy should not be dignified with a response. Nevertheless, the Philippines' sovereignty over Batanes is settled and not up for debate. The Philippines will not entertain revisionist claims over its territory and calls on so-called scholars to focus their energies on genuine, good-faith studies of the region," DFA spokesperson Analyn Ratonel said in a Viber message to reporters forwarded to the DAILY TRIBUNE.

Ratonel also noted that the Philippine-approved consular district of the Chinese Consulate General in Laoag includes Batanes, underscoring that China itself recognizes the province as part of Philippine territory for consular purposes.

The remarks came after Chinese scholars claimed during a symposium in Guangzhou on 30 June that Batanes is a natural geographical extension of Taiwan and, by extension, falls under Chinese sovereignty.

Defense Secretary Gilberto "Gibo" Teodoro Jr. earlier dismissed the claim as "a joke" and "ludicrous," saying it reinforces Manila's concerns over Beijing's broader strategic ambitions in the Pacific.

Political analyst Dennis Coronacion, chair of the Political Science Department at the University of Santo Tomas, said the claim should be viewed "with a high degree of skepticism," describing it as a politically motivated narrative rather than an objective academic conclusion.

"What we are seeing is a clear attempt by China to exploit the well-documented cultural and historical ties between the indigenous peoples of Batanes and Taiwan for geopolitical leverage," Coronacion told the DAILY TRIBUNE.

He stressed that while the Ivatan and Tao peoples share genuine cultural and historical ties, these should not be used to undermine Philippine sovereignty.

"We saw this beautifully demonstrated recently when indigenous Tao seafarers from southern Taiwan sailed across our shared waters in their traditional wooden plank boat to honor our shared Austronesian heritage. We cannot allow our genuine cultural history to be weaponized for foreign propaganda," he said.

Coronacion also argued that China's position suffers from a basic logical flaw.

"The Chinese government must first prove its highly contested historical and political claims over Taiwan before it can even begin to manufacture absurd conclusions about Batanes," he said.

Civic leader Dr. Jose Antonio Goitia likewise rejected the Chinese scholars' assertions, saying Batanes has long been an integral part of the Philippines.

"Batanes did not become Filipino by declaration. It became Filipino through generations who built their lives, raised their families, and cast their votes as citizens of this Republic," Goitia said.

He warned that repeated false claims, even if unfounded, could shape international perceptions if left unchallenged.

"Scholarship that seeks truth deserves respect. Scholarship that begins with a conclusion and works backward deserves scrutiny," he said.

Goitia added that arguments based on geographic proximity, cultural links, or selective historical maps cannot override established principles of sovereignty.

"A nation's sovereignty is not determined by proximity, propaganda, or political convenience. It is established by history, affirmed by law, sustained by governance, and defended by the unwavering will of its people," he said.

"Batanes is not merely our northern frontier. It is the enduring bond between a nation and its people. Revisionist narratives cannot break that bond because it has been forged through history, strengthened by freedom, and carried in the hearts of generations of Filipinos."