Germany: Europe concerned over China’s ‘risky maneuvers’ against Philippine ships

Visiting German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on Thursday said Europe was concerned by China’s “risky maneuvers” against Philippine ships in the South China Sea in recent months.

Her government supported Manila in its continuing diplomatic tussle with Beijing, Baerbock said, as she warned of “truly rough winds blowing across” the contested waterway.

The foreign minister, who also met Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., promised more support to the Philippine Coast Guard in dealing with what she said was Beijing’s aggression.

“The incidents over the recent months where the Chinese coast guard has used lasers and water cannons against Philippine resupply vessels and even collisions that have happened are of concern also for us in Europe,” she told a joint news conference with Enrique Manalo, Manila’s foreign secretary.

 “Such risky maneuvers violate the rights and economic development opportunities of your country and other neighboring countries.” 

Baerbock noted the Philippines’ allegations about China’s continued harassment of ships delivering provisions to an old ship serving as Manila’s outpost in the disputed area of the South China Sea. 

Last year, China trained lasers on Philippine Coast Guard ships. Beijing and Manila also traded accusations of harassment and ramming as the Philippine Coast Guard conducted a supply mission to the military outpost at Second Thomas (Ayungin) Shoal.

Such actions could hinder economic development, the German minister said.

“For countries around the world, they call into question the freedom of the sea routes guaranteed under international law in an area through which a third of global maritime trade flows,” Baerbock said.

“I’m saying this also as a representative of a country for which international trade and freedom of navigation are key, both in terms of economic policy, but also in a security dimension.”

China claims nearly the entire South China Sea, including waters within the exclusive economic zones of Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan. Indonesia does not regard itself as a party to the South China Sea dispute, but Beijing claims historic rights to parts of the sea overlapping Indonesia's exclusive economic zone as well.

A 2016 international arbitration court ruling won by the Philippines invalidated China’s expansive claims in the South China Sea, but Beijing has ignored it.

“The UNCLOS speaks a clear language. As you have mentioned before, the ruling of the arbitral tribunal has already been crystal clear in 2016. Such claims are not covered by International law,” she said. UNCLOS stands for the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

“It is now important to set up mechanisms to solve tensions together in a peaceful way. Germany will be happy to support this and help in building trust which is so important, and also help prevent escalation this way,” Baerbock said.

While in Manila, Baerbock visited the Philippine Coast Guard headquarters to inform personnel that Germany will be offering “concrete training programs” in dealing with China’s alleged maritime harassment.

“Germany will be happy to support this and help build trust, which is important and also will help prevent escalation in this way,” she said.

During their meeting, Marcos told Baerbock he was planning to visit Berlin in March 2024.

More than 60,000 Filipinos live in Germany, with most of them working in the medical and marine-based industries.