GERMAN Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock yesterday warned of “rough winds” amid tension in the South China Sea due to competing maritime claims of the Philippines, China, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam.
Baerbock, who is on a two-day visit to the country, made the remarks following his meeting with Foreign Affairs Chief Enrique Manalo.
The top German diplomat expressed concerns over the rising tension in the South China Sea, which saw an increase in Chinese aggressive activities, especially against the Philippines. China’s vessels in the West Philippine Sea in the South China Sea have
Blocked and subjected to water cannoning Philippine Coast Guard vessels on resupply run to Ayungin Shoal and Scarborough Shoal last year.
“In your region, tensions are rising, too. Rough winds are blowing across the South China Sea and this is happening in among the most important economic regions of the world,” Baerbock said, adding that China’s use of lasers and water cannons against Filipino vessels are a cause for concern.
“Such risky maneuvers violate the rights and opportunities for economic development of your country and other states as well,” she said.
“We can all agree that the world does not need another crisis,” she added.
Baerbock stressed the need for countries to unite and work together to prevent tension in the South China Sea from further escalation.
She said the South China Sea is a major economic artery through which nearly $5 trillion in goods passes annually, or nearly a third of the global maritime trade.
Baerbock said Germany will support mechanisms to ease tension in the area, build trust among the competing countries and prevent escalation.
Germany is a staunch supporter of Manila’s stand in its maritime territorial dispute with China over the latter’s massive claim in the South China Sea.
The Philippines, Vietnam, China, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan are claiming parts, while Beijing claims nearly the whole South China Sea, contributing to tension in the area.
All, except Brunei, have stationed troops in the respective islands they are claiming.
A 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in a case brought by the Philippines however rejected China’s sweeping claims over the disputed waters, saying its so-called nine dash line had no legal or historical basis. Beijing refused to honor the arbitral ruling and insisted on bilateral talks to address the maritime territorial issue.
President Marcos said he is set to visit Germany on March 12 in a bid to strengthen ties between the Philippines and the European country.
Marcos said the Philippine government has been in contact with the German Embassy in the Philippines for the past several months to find a date for a visit.
“We keep moving things, because things keep on coming up. But I think we’ve come down on March 12, the March 12 date, and so I can commit, I can commit to that now,” he said.
The late President Benigno Simeon Aquino III was the last Philippine president to visit Germany which he made from September 19 to 20, 2024.
The President said he expects Baerbock to hold more visits in the country in the future once he concludes his visit to Germany. He also invited her to visit some places in the Philippines.
Baerbock is in the country for an official visit from January 11 to 12. Her visit is in time for the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Germany this year.
Philippine-Germany diplomatic relations were established on Oct. 8, 1954.
Germany is home about to 36,100 Filipinos as of December 2022.
It was the Philippines 12th trading partner in 2022, 10th market export and 15th import supplier.
Approved investments from Germany are manufacturing, administrative and support service activities, transportation and storage, arts, entertainment and recreation, including wholesale and retail trade, repair of vehicles and motorcycles, among others.
SUPPORT
Baerbock also vowed continued German support to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the frontline in Manila’s effort in dealing with Chinese harassment and enforcing its claim in the disputed waters.
Germany recently donated unmanned aerial vehicles that the PCG can use for maritime surveillance for drug interdiction, illegal fishing operations, marine pollution and other illegal activities, as well as boost its disaster response.
Manalo said Baerbock spoke of continued support to PCG’s capacity-building programs as well as defense cooperation but he did not provide details.
Manalo said he expressed Manila’s gratitude for Germany’s continued support, especially on the South China Sea issue.
“They key area that Germany can also do is bringing greater awareness in the international area and the importance of the rule of law in the region,” he said, referring to the South China Sea issue.
PCG spokesman Rear Adm Armando Balilo said Germany will provide “around four or more” drones which will be used in its operations, including in the WPS.
He made the remarks after Baerbock visited the PCG headquarters in Manila yesterday afternoon.
PCG commandant Adm. Ronnie Gil Gavan said he discussed with Baerbock several issues, including the drone assistance program.
“We will also be pursuing training opportunities on the drone skills that the Coast Guard will need. We will also be increasing our person-to-person exchanges to further improve the relations between Germany and the Philippine Coast Guard,” said Gavan.
Germany already provided two small drones to the PCG two years ago. Gavan said the drones were used for training.
Gavan said the additional drones will be used in the PCG’s WPS operations, search and rescue operations and marine pollution response, among others.
Baerbock conveyed Germany’s support for a rules-based international order in the South China Sea, the Presidential Communications Office-Radio Television Malacañang said in a social media post following the minister’s courtesy call on President Marcos Jr.
It also said Marcos and Baerbock discussed strategies for developing a formula to calculate loss and damage in countries vulnerable to climate change, after the Philippines secured a board seat in the inaugural Board of the Loss and Damage Fund during the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai.
The Philippines wants to host the Loss and Damage Fund to which where Germany pledged S$100 million in contributions to the fund. — With Jocelyn Montemayor, Victor Reyes, and Reuters
