Chinese scholars’ Batanes claim has no basis, ‘a joke’ – Teodoro

MANILA, Philippines — Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. on Thursday said a claim made by Chinese scholars—that the Philippines’ northernmost province of Batanes is an extension of Taiwan and therefore belongs to China—reinforced Manila’s long-held assessment that Beijing intended to expand its influence over more maritime areas. “It also validates what we’ve been saying—that