Camille Naredo

Senator Risa Hontiveros visits Pag-asa Island, a part of the Kalayaan Island Group, in the West Philippine Sea. Handout/Office of Senator Risa Hontiveros

Senator Risa Hontiveros visits Pag-asa Island, a part of the Kalayaan Island Group, in the West Philippine Sea.

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HONTIVEROS

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1771665220005Screen Shot 2026-02-21 at 12.03.51 PM.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Senator Risa Hontiveros visits Pag-asa Island, a part of the Kalayaan Island Group, in the West Philippine Sea. Handout/Office of Senator Risa Hontiveros" width="960"/>Senator Risa Hontiveros visits Pag-asa Island, a part of the Kalayaan Island Group, in the West Philippine Sea. Handout/Office of Senator Risa Hontiveros</div>PAG-ASA ISLAND -- A Philippine senator called for deepening defense relationships and &quot;continuous&quot; pushback against China&#x27;s claims in the South China Sea while visiting one of Manila&#x27;s tiny possessions in the disputed waterway on Saturday.Thitu Island, known as Pag-asa in the Philippines, is home to about 400 Filipinos, mostly fishermen and their families, who China accuse of living there illegally.It lies about 450 kilometers (280 miles) west of Palawan within the disputed Spratly island chain, a group of more than 700 islets, reefs and atolls believed to sit above vast natural resources.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/2/19/philippines-to-improve-port-airstrip-in-kalayaan-island-group-0816">READ: Philippines to improve port, airstrip in Kalayaan Island Group</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/18/marcos-orders-dizon-to-visit-kalayaan-island-group-identify-needed-infrastructure-1559">READ: Marcos orders Dizon to visit Kalayaan Island Group, identify needed infrastructure</a></div>Senator Risa Hontiveros, an outspoken critic of China, told AFP on Saturday she believed Filipinos were not ready to give up &quot;any portion of the West Philippine Sea&quot;, using Manila&#x27;s term for the waters off its western seaboard.&quot;We need continuous diplomatic and political pushback,&quot; Hontiveros said after a plane journey of more than two hours with local journalists.While welcoming the strengthening of the Philippines&#x27; treaty relationship with the United States in recent years, Hontiveros said Manila hoped to bring even more &quot;like-minded nations&quot; into the fold.&quot;We need to continuously develop our security and defense relations with (other countries), including joint patrols,&quot; she said.An AFP journalist who flew to Pag-asa Island aboard a second plane saw Chinese navy and coast guard vessels patrolling near the island.Hontiveros, who noted that symbols on her cell phone screen changed to Chinese characters before landing, said she was bringing with her essential goods and medical services to help the island&#x27;s development.The Chinese Embassy in Manila did not respond immediately to a request for comment.Hontiveros&#x27;s trip comes days after Vice President Sara Duterte announced her candidacy for the 2028 presidential election.Her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, who is facing an International Criminal Court trial on charges of crimes against humanity, attempted a more conciliatory approach with China.Critics say his efforts yielded few meaningful concessions.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/17/philippines-too-accommodating-to-the-chinese-says-historian-0831">READ: Philippines &#x27;too accommodating&#x27; to the Chinese, says historian</a></div>Hontiveros, who told AFP she was open to a presidential run herself, said she believed Sara Duterte would likely adopt a similarly China-friendly approach if elected president.Asked about the possibility of a US-China conflict over neighboring Taiwan, she said the Philippines should be &quot;very concerned&quot;, noting the proximity of its northernmost Batanes chain to the self-ruled island.China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has threatened to use force to bring it under its control.&quot;We have a lot of countrymen working there,&quot; Hontiveros said. &quot;All the more that we should be proactive to... insist on a peaceful resolution of conflicts.&quot;

Senator Risa Hontiveros, an outspoken critic of China, told AFP on Saturday she believed Filipinos were not ready to give up "any portion of the West Philippine Sea."

Senator Risa Hontiveros, an outspoken critic of China, told AFP on Saturday she believed Filipinos were not ready to give up "any portion of the West Philippine Sea."

Hontiveros calls out China in visit to Pag-asa island

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Hontiveros calls out China in visit to Pag-asa island

Jam Sta Rosa,

Agence France-Presse

Published Feb 21, 2026 05:15 PM PHT

Read More:

Risa Hontiveros

Philippine Senate

Kalayaan Island Group

Pag-asa Island

West Philippine Sea

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