Sen. Hontiveros asks China to recall envoy over Taiwan remarks

Senator Risa Hontiveros urged China to recall its ambassador, Huang Xilian, along with Chinese ships and artificial islands in the West Philippine Sea.

Hontiveros stated that Malacañang should ask Beijing to recall Huang for his undiplomatic and disrespectful manner of engagement.

This call follows Huang's advice to the Philippines to oppose Taiwan's independence, citing concerns for the 150,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Taiwan.

Hontiveros clarified that Huang could not have been misquoted as his speech was delivered in English, not Chinese.

She asserted that Filipinos will continue to work where they wish and that Beijing cannot dictate the future of Filipino families.

The senator accused China of dragging the Philippines into its disputes with the US and stoking regional tensions by claiming territories that do not belong to it.

She added that China is refusing to honor a UN tribunal ruling that rejected its historical claim over the South China Sea.