A cultural dispute has erupted as Dr. Nestor Castro, a Filipino anthropologist, contests the narrative presented by Chinese scholar Wang Yuanyuan regarding the cultural and linguistic ties of Batanes.
Questioning Historical Narratives
Is this Wang Yuanyuan really an anthropologist or just a pretender? It would be more appropriate to call him a political operator of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Dr. Nestor Castro, Anthropologist
Wang's claims assert that the Ivatan people of Batanes, numbering over 10,000, share cultural roots with the Tao people of Lanyu, Taiwan. Dr. Castro argues that this assertion is misleading and factually incorrect.
In a detailed social media post on July 12, Castro highlighted that while the indigenous languages of Taiwan are Austronesian, they fall under a different subgroup called Formosan. He emphasized that the languages spoken in the Philippines, including Ivatan, are distinctly Western Malayo-Polynesian.
Castro further asserted that the cultural and linguistic similarities between the Ivatan and Tao peoples do not support China's claims. He stated, "The geographical spread of Austronesian languages does not include China, while Lanyu language is recognized as Western Malayo-Polynesian."
Wang Yuanyuan, during an academic symposium at Jinan University, inaccurately suggested that Philippine anthropologists confirmed the use of the Tao language by the elderly in Batanes as proof of migration from Taiwan thousands of years ago. Castro refuted this, noting that Austronesian-speaking populations reached Taiwan long before they arrived in the Philippines.
He emphasized, "Are Austronesians Chinese? No! There was no country of China 5,000 years ago. Why would China claim linguistic territories that existed before China?"
Castro also clarified that the Lanyu people identify as 'Tao,' a term that means 'people.' He pointed out that Filipinos also use similar terms, reinforcing the cultural connection between the two groups.
Notably, Castro addressed Taiwan's political status, asserting, "Taiwan is an independent country that has never been subject to the People's Republic of China. It is illogical for China to claim Batanes based on its claims over Taiwan."