Bangladesh, July 18 -- Chinese academics at a recent symposium in Guangzhou said the Philippines northernmost province of Batanes is a “natural extension” of Taiwan and therefore belongs to China. The event, held by Jinan University and attended by researchers from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, has angered officials in Manila.

Maritime watchdog SeaLight called the move part of a “lawfare” strategy - supposedly using legal and academic arguments to push Chinas position without making an official sovereignty claim. Meanwhile, new incidents involving fishermen near Scarborough Shoal are a reminder that tensions remain high in the South China Sea. Western countries and their allies are also increasing pressu...