The Philippines has strongly rejected recent Chinese claims that Palawan Island belongs to China, calling the assertions part of Beijing’s “cognitive warfare.” The National Maritime Council (NMC) slammed the claims circulating on Chinese social media, describing them as “disinformation” aimed at misleading the public.

NMC spokesperson Alexander Lopez told People’s Television Network that this was a part of their strategy to influence both internal and external audiences and shift the narrative in their favour. The claims suggested Palawan was originally named ‘Zheng He Island’ after the 14th-century Chinese explorer, but Lopez dismissed this, noting there is no historical evidence Zheng He ever visited the island.

The dispute comes amid China’s growing assertiveness in the South China Sea, a resource-rich area also claimed by the Philippines. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled that China’s claims in the region were unlawful, a decision Beijing has rejected.