PH rejects Chinese scholars' claim over Batanes, dares Beijing to file case before intl court

(UPDATE) MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines has rejected claims by Chinese scholars that the northern province of Batanes belongs to China, with top officials declaring that Philippine sovereignty over the island province has been 'settled and not up for debate' and challenging Beijing to bring the case before the International Court of Justice (ICJ).In a statement, National Security Adviser Eduardo A o Oban Jr. expressed concern over reports that scholars from Chinese institutions, including Nanjing University, argued during a recent symposium that Batanes was a natural extension of Taiwan and therefore would fall under Chinese sovereignty.'There is no ambiguity on this matter: Batanes is an integral and indivisible part of the Republic of the Philippines,' Oban said, dismissing the claim as having 'no merit.'He warned, however, that such assertions could be part of an effort to 'manufacture ambiguity where none exists.'Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.