Photo credit: NHCP

Looks like China’s at it again—this time, trying to claim Palawan as their own. A social media post circulating on Weibo and other Chinese platforms boldly (and falsely) declares that Palawan was part of China for a thousand years and should be “returned.” But the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) isn’t having any of it.

In a strong statement, the NHCP completely refuted these baseless claims, making it clear that Palawan has always been part of the Philippines. The viral post, which reportedly originated from the Rednote app (China’s version of TikTok), even tried to rename Palawan as “Zheng He Island” after a Chinese explorer. But here’s the deal—just because someone explored a place doesn’t mean they own it.

History Speaks Loud and Clear

Let’s set the record straight: There is zero evidence that China ever had a permanent settlement in Palawan. Archaeological findings show that Filipinos have been living there for at least 50,000 years. When European explorers arrived in the 1500s, chronicler Antonio Pigafetta documented thriving local communities—none of which were under Chinese rule. The Spanish, the Sultanate of Sulu, and eventually, the Philippine government have all governed Palawan, and international treaties have long recognized it as part of our sovereign territory.

China’s attempt to rewrite history isn’t new. From the infamous Nine-Dash Line (which was ruled illegal in 2016) to these latest social media fabrications, their strategy is clear—use misinformation to justify territorial grabs. But the NHCP and the rest of the Philippine government are standing firm: Palawan is not for sale, not up for negotiation, and definitely not China’s to claim.
So, let’s make this crystal clear—Palawan is, and will always be, Filipino. Period.