NSA Año refutes China's 'baseless' Palawan claims

National Security Adviser Eduardo Año branded as "baseless and revisionist" Chinese claims on social media that Palawan historically belongs to China.

Año stated that these assertions are fabrications designed to distort history and challenge Philippine sovereignty over its internationally recognized territory.

He emphasized that Palawan has always been and will remain an integral part of the Philippines, with no historical record or legal precedent supporting Chinese claims.

Archaeological findings, centuries of governance, and treaties such as the 1898 Treaty of Paris and the 1900 Treaty of Washington unequivocally establish the Philippines' ownership of Palawan.

The claim that Palawan was once named "Zheng He Island" is an outright fabrication with no historical basis, according to NSA Año.

Año clarified that while Chinese explorer Zheng He visited Southeast Asia, there's no record of him visiting Palawan, and even if he did, it doesn't equate to ownership.