Senator Risa Hontiveros on Friday said she raised the issues of China's aggression in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) during her recent meeting with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-Wen.
The meeting was held in Ing-Wen's residence in Taipei City as seen in the photos shared by Hontiveros on her official Facebook page.
"While I am here in Taiwan to particularly check on the OFWs [overseas Filipino workers] who were threatened by the Chinese Amb[assador Huang Xilian ] dangerous statements, I cannot help but raise an urgent issue that looms large over the Philippines&nbsp; &ndash; the external threat posed by China in our territories, a dilemma Taiwan also faces," she said.
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Hontiveros stated that she and the Taiwan President want to resolve the South China Sea row through a "peaceful approach".
"I will work on taking tangible steps in the Philippine legislature to ensure that we successfully discuss and conduct peaceful negotiations with all States concerned to advance peace and stability in the entire South China Sea," she said.
Hontiveros furthered that "peace" is the only option to attain citizen's safety, and this is vital for "economies to survive and thrive."
Meanwhile, in a separate Twitter post, the Senator expressed her support for nations like Taiwan on the democracy side.
"Democracy is a powerful vaccine against armed conflict. With the continued and strengthened ties between the Philippines &amp; Taiwan, I trust that true &amp; lasting peace will reign," she added.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
I will always support nations w/c err on the side of democracy. Democracy is a powerful vaccine against armed conflict. With the continued and strengthened ties between the Philippines &amp; Taiwan, I trust that true &amp; lasting peace will reign. <a href="https://t.co/YY92g2de7g">pic.twitter.com/YY92g2de7g</a>
&mdash; risa hontiveros (@risahontiveros) <a href="https://twitter.com/risahontiveros/status/1656971179062857728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 12, 2023</a></blockquote>

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Hontiveros raises WPS issue in meeting with Taiwanese president Tsai