Senate Deputy Majority Leader Risa Hontiveros on Saturday called for stronger defense cooperation and sustained diplomatic pushback against China’s claims in the South China Sea during her visit to Thitu Island (Pag-asa), a small Philippine outpost in the disputed waters.
“We need continuous diplomatic and political pushback,” Hontiveros told AFP after a two-hour flight to the island.
Home to around 400 residents, Pag-asa has long been contested by Beijing, which accuses Filipinos of illegal occupation.
Hontiveros stressed that Filipinos must not surrender “any portion of the West Philippine Sea” and urged Manila to expand security ties beyond the United States to other “like-minded nations,” including joint patrols.
AFP reporters noted Chinese navy and coast guard vessels nearby. Hontiveros also delivered essential goods and medical services to residents, highlighting the tense environment when her phone briefly switched to Chinese characters before landing.
“We have a lot of countrymen working there. All the more that we should be proactive to… insist on a peaceful resolution of conflicts,” she said, warning of risks to the Philippines amid potential US-China tensions over Taiwan.
Her visit comes as Vice President Sara Duterte announces her 2028 presidential bid, following her father’s more conciliatory approach toward China—a path Hontiveros suggested Duterte may continue if elected.