US senators urged to visit Pagasa Island

Screengrab of SeaLight director Ray Powell while testifying on October 7, 2025 before the US Senate subcommittee on East Asia, The Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy

MANILA, Philippines — United States senators should visit Pagasa (Thitu) Island to affirm the superpower’s support for the territorial struggle of its oldest treaty ally in Asia.

This is among the recommendations laid out before the US Senate subcommittee on East Asia, The Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy by SeaLight director Ray Powell to counter what experts termed as China’s illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive (ICAD) actions in South China Sea.

However, a security expert believes such a recommendation would “rock the boat” and further complicate matters.

READ: PH maintains activities in Pag-asa Island, Pag-asa Cays lawful

Powell, who spoke before the subcommittee on Oct. 7,  said that US senators should formally request the Philippine government add a stop to Pagasa Island to their official itineraries when they visit the country.

“The images of senior US legislators offering aid and comfort while China’s flotilla of enforcers looms threateningly nearby would itself be a powerful counter ICAD action,” Powell said in his written testimony submitted before the subpanel.

Chinese militia ships were regularly spotted surrounding Pagasa Island while entering inside its territorial sea at one point.

Having had an effective occupation and control over it, Manila asserts sovereignty within the 12 nautical miles territorial sea of Pagasa Island, which is beyond the West Philippine Sea.

READ: West Philippine Sea: Large fleet of Chinese ships seen in Pagasa Island

Despite this, Pagasa Island became the seat of the Kalayaan town in Palawan province, being the biggest maritime feature in Kalayaan Island Group that is home to some 400 locals, troops, law enforcers and civilian government personnel.

Powell said: “Ideally these trips would also serve as humanitarian outreach opportunities for a geographically isolated community that wakes up every morning on the front lines, facing swarms of Chinese coast guard and militia ships that are visible from their front doors.”

“As with Taiwan visits, this symbolic stop would demonstrate support for the Spratly Islands’ only civilian population, reinforce the US commitment to defense of its ally in the West Philippine Sea, and make visible America’s treaty obligations in the face of increasing PRC aggression,” Powell further said.

Speaking of Taiwan, security expert Chester Cabalza on Friday said such a move “will simulate the same quelling action” of China when former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited the self-ruled island in 2022.

“Are we ready of the consequences?” Cabalza, president of the Manila-based think tank International Development and Security Cooperation, said in a message to Inquirer. “It would only complicate the situation at this time.”

“Although, we welcome the US tough stance to Beijing’s challenge in our sovereignty,” Cabalza said, “the Armed Forces of the Philippines must prepare for any eventuality once the Philippines rocks the boat. /cb