MANILA, Philippines – German Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock agreed that tensions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) are indeed a cause for concern and thus expressed support for the country’s move for policy-based management of the disputed waters.
Baerbock’s visit for the first time in the Philippines coincided with the 70th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between the two nations.
Fresh off her visit to the middle east including Israel, the top German diplomat expressed concern about the tensions happening in the vital global waterway.
“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 in a bilateral meeting with her counterpart, Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo in Manila.
Baerbock highlighted that China Coast Guard’s use of lasers and water cannons against Philippine vessels is a pressing “concern” for everyone including European countries who are equally alarmed at the aggression because “such risky maneuvers violate the rights and opportunities for economic development of your country and other states as well.”
In the past years, numerous collision incidents happened including Chinese Coast Guard using lasers and water cannons on Philippine resupply vessels in the WPS.
Baerbock also stressed that these actions “call into question the freedom of navigation that is enshrined in international law affecting all countries worldwide.”
According to the 43-year-old diplomat, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea “speaks a clear language,” that the “the ruling of the Arbitral Tribunal has already been crystal clear in 2016, such claims are not covered by international law.”
“We take a clear stance on exclusive economic zones for each and every individual country,” she added.
Despite the Philippines’ win at The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) at The Hauge, Netherlands, Beijing continues to assert ownership of the entire South China Sea including parts of the West Philippine Sea to this day.
Proving Germany’s intent to help ease out tensions in the area, Baerbock said her country is committed to expanding training programs for the Philippine Coast Guard as well as other frontline units dealing with China’s territorial aggression.
“Germany is already engaged in the framework of our capacity building initiative in the Indo-Pacific with reconnaissance drones in the coastal area and I’m delighted that we want to continue this cooperation in the coastal area not only with regard with traditional drones, but also when it comes to training and regional cooperation,” Baerbock said.
While she believes clear policies should prevail, she still highlighted the importance of solving matters in peace.