Arenas denounces Chinese social media claims on Palawan

Rachel Arenas, chairperson of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, denounced Chinese social media posts claiming Palawan province as part of China.

Arenas called these claims an attack on Philippine sovereignty and historically inaccurate, stressing that China's fabricated claims are blatant propaganda disregarding international law.

The Philippines maintains full sovereignty over Palawan, a fact that is indisputable according to Arenas, who urged the government to update maps delineating the country's maritime territory and political boundaries.

Claims circulating on Chinese social media platforms naming Palawan as Zheng He Island after a Chinese explorer are not official government channels in China.

Palawan lies outside China's nine-dash line, which the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled has no legal basis in 2016.

Arenas is a principal proponent of laws defining the extent of the Philippines' maritime domain and urged all relevant agencies to issue new maps countering Beijing’s excessive claims.