‘Welcome to China’ greeting irks Hontiveros during Kalayaan visit

Sen. Risa Hontiveros expressed alarm over receiving electronic messages saying “Welcome to China” as she visited the Kalayaan Island Group on Saturday, calling the incident “totally unacceptable” amid ongoing tensions in the area.

Hontiveros, accompanied by Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela, visited the municipality to meet residents and local officials and assess conditions on the ground.

According to Raffy Tima's report on "24 Oras Weekend," the senator witnessed mobile notifications bearing the message “Welcome to China” and heard repeated radio challenges sent to personnel aboard their PCG aircraft as they approached Pag-asa Island.

“Ibang klase pa rin. Makita mismo sa cellphones ng mga kasama namin sa Philippine Coast Guard plane… Yung lumalabas dun sa upper left ng cell phone monitor yung Chinese characters at yung mga text messages na ‘Welcome to China,’" Hontiveros said.

(The situation remains odd. You can directly see the phones of our companions on the Coast Guard plane… The notifications popping up at the upper left of the cell phone monitor were Chinese characters and text messages saying ‘Welcome to China.’)

"(This is) Totally unacceptable,” she added. 

Such “Welcome” messages typically signal the telecommunications network of the country a device has entered, making them sensitive in disputed areas where they may be interpreted as an assertion of jurisdiction or control.

Hontiveros criticized China’s continued radio challenges and text messages, as she cited the Philippines’ presence and active community on Pag-asa Island.

“Parang ang China na lang ang hindi pa nakatanggap ng memo. Kaya text sila ng text ng ganyan at radio challenge sila ng radio challenge habang kami po ay palipad dito," she said in a speech.

(It seems like only China hasn’t gotten the memo, which is why they keep texting like that and sending radio challenges while we are flying here.)

"Well, gaya nga ng sinabi ng ating mga unang nagsalita, nandito tayo. Atin ito at gumagana ang isang lipunang Pilipino dito sa Pag-asa Island,” she added.

(Like what the speakers before me said, we are here: this is ours, and a Philippine society is thriving here at Pag-asa Island.)

During her first official visit, Hontiveros also delivered medical assistance to residents and reaffirmed the Philippines’ claim and presence in the area.

Kalayaan Mayor Beltzasar Alindogan dismissed suggestions to relinquish the island group to ease tensions with China, instead urging more government officials to visit and see the situation firsthand.

PCG personnel likewise reiterated their commitment to defend the municipality.

“No question about it, the Philippines has effective governance and ownership of the municipality of Kalayaan, especially Pag-asa Island. Atin po ito (This is ours),” said Commodore Charles Merric Villanueva, acting commander of the PCG Western Command—MCG, GMA Integrated News