NATIONAL
Advocates Philippines
No, Palawan Was Never Part Of China - And It Never Will Be
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Looks like another wave of historical fiction is making rounds on Chinese social media—this time, claiming that Palawan was once part of China and should be "returned." But let’s be clear: this is nothing more than a fabricated story, and National Security Adviser Secretary Eduardo Año isn’t having any of it.
In a firm statement, Año dismissed these claims as “baseless and revisionist,” emphasizing that Palawan has always been, and will always be, an integral part of the Philippines.
The Facts Speak for Themselves
No historical document, legal precedent, or credible piece of evidence supports the idea that Palawan was ever under Chinese sovereignty. Instead, history tells us a very different story:
The 1898 Treaty of Paris and the 1900 Treaty of Washington solidified the Philippines’ territorial boundaries, including Palawan.
Archaeological findings and centuries of governance under indigenous groups, Spanish colonizers, and later the Philippine government reinforce that Palawan has never belonged to China.
The claim that Palawan was once called "Zheng He Island" is pure fiction. While the Chinese explorer Admiral Zheng He did sail around Southeast Asia in the 14th and 15th centuries, there’s no record of him ever setting foot in Palawan. And even if he had, a simple visit does not equate to ownership—just as Magellan’s landing in the Philippines didn’t make the islands a permanent part of Portugal.
Disinformation and Digital Manipulation
The National Security Council (NSC) is already looking into the source of this latest misinformation campaign, which first appeared on Chinese social media platforms like Weibo and Red Note (a TikTok-like app). Interestingly, these claims don’t seem to come from official Chinese government sources or mainstream media outlets, which raises the question: Who's really pushing this narrative, and why?
Año warns that this is likely part of a broader disinformation strategy aimed at challenging Philippine sovereignty and misleading both Filipino and Chinese citizens. With digital manipulation becoming a powerful tool in geopolitical games, the NSC is urging Filipinos to be extra cautious about the information they consume and share.
Stay Informed, Stay Vigilant
At the end of the day, history is not up for debate. Palawan is Philippine territory—yesterday, today, and forever. As the Philippines continues to defend its sovereignty, the NSC calls on the public to rely on verified sources and not fall for propaganda designed to rewrite history.
So the next time you see claims like this online, you know what to do: fact-check, call it out, and move on.
In a firm statement, Año dismissed these claims as “baseless and revisionist,” emphasizing that Palawan has always been, and will always be, an integral part of the Philippines.
The Facts Speak for Themselves
No historical document, legal precedent, or credible piece of evidence supports the idea that Palawan was ever under Chinese sovereignty. Instead, history tells us a very different story:
The 1898 Treaty of Paris and the 1900 Treaty of Washington solidified the Philippines’ territorial boundaries, including Palawan.
Archaeological findings and centuries of governance under indigenous groups, Spanish colonizers, and later the Philippine government reinforce that Palawan has never belonged to China.
The claim that Palawan was once called "Zheng He Island" is pure fiction. While the Chinese explorer Admiral Zheng He did sail around Southeast Asia in the 14th and 15th centuries, there’s no record of him ever setting foot in Palawan. And even if he had, a simple visit does not equate to ownership—just as Magellan’s landing in the Philippines didn’t make the islands a permanent part of Portugal.
Disinformation and Digital Manipulation
The National Security Council (NSC) is already looking into the source of this latest misinformation campaign, which first appeared on Chinese social media platforms like Weibo and Red Note (a TikTok-like app). Interestingly, these claims don’t seem to come from official Chinese government sources or mainstream media outlets, which raises the question: Who's really pushing this narrative, and why?
Año warns that this is likely part of a broader disinformation strategy aimed at challenging Philippine sovereignty and misleading both Filipino and Chinese citizens. With digital manipulation becoming a powerful tool in geopolitical games, the NSC is urging Filipinos to be extra cautious about the information they consume and share.
Stay Informed, Stay Vigilant
At the end of the day, history is not up for debate. Palawan is Philippine territory—yesterday, today, and forever. As the Philippines continues to defend its sovereignty, the NSC calls on the public to rely on verified sources and not fall for propaganda designed to rewrite history.
So the next time you see claims like this online, you know what to do: fact-check, call it out, and move on.
Mar 4, 2025
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