Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Vivienne Gulla

Victoria Tulad

ABS-CBN News

MANILA (UPDATED) -- Senate Deputy Majority Leader Risa Hontiveros is open to talks with the Chinese embassy in Manila amid the word war between its officials and officials of the Philippine government over the territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea.&quot;I&#x27;m always open to talks, kung honest brokers at the table yung kausap ng ating bansa. Again, I would go by what the Senate President has said on these matters,&quot; Hontiveros said on Monday.She stressed that international agreements and decisions should be taken into consideration. &quot;Siyempre yung primordial principle pa na bumatay tayo sa ating ugali sa international conventions or United Nations conventions na parties tayo pareho, ang Pilipinas at pati ang China. And sa pagkilala din sa tagumpay natin sa Hague. Around those kung may pagkakasundo at may magalang na pagkakasundo, then we can explore talking,&quot; Hontiveros said.Last week, Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan said they are advocating for dialogue and would like to sit down and talk.&quot;We have not been meeting each other enough… This situation must change. And it must change quickly,&quot; Jing said at a Chinese New Year celebration. <div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/12/china-envoy-tells-philippines-let-s-talk-1319">READ: China envoy tells Philippines -- &#x27;Let’s talk’</a></div>Jing’s remarks came in the heels of a Senate resolution which condemned the Chinese Embassy in Manila’s remarks criticizing Philippine officials who asserted maritime rights in the West Philippine Sea. Hontiveros was one of the 15 senators who signed the resolution.Asked if the embassy should tone down, Hontiveros said: &quot;Yun naman yung diwa ng inaprubahan naming Senate Resolution na nagsabing hindi katanggap-tanggap ang mga statements nila since a few years ago. At patuloy na titindig ang Senado para sa Philippine national interests.&quot;We will not be silenced. Totoong pwede kaming mag-file nang mag-file ng mga resolusyon pero yung totoong problema kasi ay kailangan pa ng Chinese Embassy magpakita ng totoong respeto sa iba&#x27;t ibang branches ng Philippine government at sa mga Philippine officials,&quot; she added.The senator also appealed to Filipinos not to fall for fake news or disinformation. &quot;Basta&#x27;t bilang mga Pilipino, magkaisa po tayo na itaguyod ang pambansang interes at makipagkaibigan sa ibang mga bansa at ibang mga sambayanan na may mutual respect sa atin,&quot; she said.<div> </div><div>&#x27;A GOOD IDEA&#x27;</div>Meanwhile, ACT Teachers Party List Rep. Antonio Tinio is also backing a possible dialogue between Philippine lawmakers and the Chinese embassy.Last Saturday, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said he will suggest to the Senate President that the upper chamber invite the Chinese diplomats to a meeting or a dialogue.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/14/lacson-says-senators-may-meet-with-chinese-embassy-officials-on-wps-row-1814">READ: Lacson says senators may meet with Chinese embassy officials on WPS row</a></div>Tinio said he believes a similar dialogue between Chinese diplomats and leaders of the lower chamber is also needed.&quot;I think that&#x27;s a good idea, kasi parang hindi na yata productive &#x27;yung mga exchanges na ito. So mas maganda siguro mag-usap &#x27;yung Senate at saka &#x27;yung spokesperson ng Chinese Embassy… As to the House, I suppose kailangan din, dahil involved din ang ilang members natin sa palitan ng maiinit na statements with the Chinese embassy,&quot;  he said.&quot;Hindi tayo umaatras sa ating matibay at legal na sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea at totally nire-reject natin &#x27;yung 10-dash line ng China. I think malinaw naman &#x27;yun, at &#x27;yun ang palaging starting point,&quot; Tinio stressed.ML Party List Representative Leila de Lima previously reminded officials of the Chinese  Embassy that they are &quot;not China,&quot; and that &quot;there is a limit&quot; to &quot;abuse of immunity.&quot;However, Senator Francis Pangilinan is skeptical about the idea.&quot;Nauunawaan natin ang mungkahi ni Sen Ping. Ayaw natin ng dagdag pa na tensyon pero depende ito lahat sa response ng China sa nasabing mungkahi… Mahirap silang pagkatiwalaan,&quot; he said. &quot;Sa apat na termino ko bilang Senador at loob ng mahigit na 2 dekada, ngayon ko lang naranasan ang pambabastos ng embahada ng China sa ating mga opisyal ng gobyerno at ating mga institusyon. Kung ‘le-lekturin’ lang nila ang mga Senador tungkol sa diplomasya eh huwag nalang at maghanap nalang sila ng ibang kausap,&quot; he added. -- with a report from RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News<div> </div>

Senate Deputy Majority Leader Risa Hontiveros is open to talks with the Chinese embassy in Manila amid the word war between its officials and officials of the Philippine government over the territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea.

Senate Deputy Majority Leader Risa Hontiveros is open to talks with the Chinese embassy in Manila amid the word war between its officials and officials of the Philippine government over the territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea.

Hontiveros open to talks with Chinese embassy; solon also backs dialogue

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Hontiveros open to talks with Chinese embassy; solon also backs dialogue

Vivienne Gulla,

Victoria Tulad,

ABS-CBN News

Published February 16, 2026 04:31 PM PHT

|

Updated February 16, 2026 05:18 PM PHT

Read More:

Philippines

China

West Philippine Sea

Chinese embassy

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