THE European Union yesterday offered to help the Philippines in its threat assessment as well as in strengthening the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) amid tension in the South China Sea.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who met with President Marcos Jr yesterday at Malacañang, stressed the importance of a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
“An Indo-Pacific free of the threats of coercion is key to all our stability, to our peace and to the prosperity of our people,” she said.
She also the EU recognizes as “legally binding” the 2016 arbitral ruling on the South China Sea dispute, which invalidated China’s massive claim to the South China Sea (SCS).
Aside from the Philippines, the other SCS claimants are Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam.
“The European Union underlines that the 2016 award of the arbitral tribunal on the South China Sea is legally binding, and that it provides the basis for peaceful resolving disputes between the parties. We are ready to strengthen the cooperation with the Philippines on maritime security in the region by sharing information, conducting threat assessment and building the capacity of your national Coast Watch center and your Coast Guard,” she added.
The Philippines is a fulcrum of the geopolitical rivalry between the United States and China, with its maritime territory encompassing part of the South China Sea, a strategic and resource-rich waterway over which China also claims sovereignty.
China, whose aggressive actions in the South China Sea have been the subject of hundreds of diplomatic protests filed by the Philippines, does not recognize the landmark ruling, and China does not recognize the arbitral ruling and has insisted on bilateral negotiations with the other claimants.
China continues to harass Philippine Coast Guard vessels in areas within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea. Filipino fishermen have been unable to fish in their traditional fishing grounds due to the presence of Chinese vessels while PCG and Bureau of Fisheries Aquatic Resources vessels that were delivering aid to Pag-asa island have been shadowed and have received radio challenges from China Coast Guard vessels.
President Marcos Jr. brought up the maritime row during his state visit to China in January, which resulted in an agreement to establish a direct communications line between Philippine and Chinese officials to avoid any miscalculation and misunderstanding.
Marcos has also called for upholding the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and for the early conclusion of a Code of Conduct in the SCS.
LUNCHEON
The President and First lady Louise “Liza” Marcos, hosted a state luncheon for Von der Leyen yesterday in Malacañang.
Von der Leyen, who arrived Sunday for a three-day official visit, is also set to meet with Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, as well as speak before a high-level business event organized by the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines in partnership with the Makati Business Club.
The President again underscored the importance of the visit, saying it signified the EU’s commitment to work together towards achieving peace and prosperity, as guided by the shared values and principles in bringing a global community that upholds democracy, human rights and rule of law.
“As the Philippine economy seeks to reclaim the momentum lost during the pandemic and embarks on a high economic growth path, your visit, Excellency, deeply heartens us to the support of the European Union and its member states, especially since strengthening our bilateral ties in trade, development, digital connectivity and other sectors will undoubtedly positively impact our respective economies. I am deeply thankful for the EU’s support and I sincerely wish and hope that this warm kinship developing between us will set the tone of the relationship and enrich the enduring bonds of friendship between our governments and peoples in the years to come,” Marcos said in offering a toast for Von der Leyen.
He had also acknowledged the EU’s staunch support, including to the Bangsamoro peace process, and its extension of the recognition of the Standards of Training, Certification and watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) certificates issued by the Philippines as it affected the employment of more than 50,000 seafarers working onboard EU flag vessels.
He thanked Von der Leyen for the first visit of an EU president, which comes on the eve of the celebration of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Eu and the Philippines. — With Reuters
