European Union seeks closer security cooperation with PH
By Raymund Antonio and Raymund Antonio
Published Jul 31, 2023 05:17 am
Underscoring the need for a free and open Indo-Pacific region, the president of the European Commission (EC) expressed the European Union’s (EU) intention to step up its maritime cooperation with the Philippines amid security threats in the South China Sea.
(From left) European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (Ali Vicoy/MANILA BULLETIN)
EC President Ursula von der Leyen met with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in Malacañang on Monday, July 31. During a joint press conference after their meeting, the EC chief stressed that the “illegal use of force cannot be tolerated” either in Ukraine by Russian forces or in the Indo-Pacific region. “The European Unipn underlines that the 2016 award of (the) arbitral tribunal on the South China Sea is legally binding and that provides the basis for peaceful resolving dispute between the parties,” she said. The commission is the body that shapes the EU’s overall strategy, and is currently “stepping up its strategic engagement with the broader Indo-Pacific region,” a statement posted on EU’s website said. “We are ready to strengthen the cooperation with the Philippines on maritime security in the region by sharing information, conducting threat assessment, and building capacity of your National Coast Watch Center in your Coast Guard,” she added. The 2016 Arbitral Award struck down China’s nine-dash line theory, the basis of its sweeping claims in the South China Sea, part of which are claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Brunei. China has denied recognition of the ruling, and has accused the United States and other western countries of interfering in what it calls a regional dispute. But Von der Leyen stressed that “security in Europe and security in the Indo-Pacific is indivisible” because of the globalized world. “Challenges to the rules-based order in our interconnected world affect all of us. Our societies pay through higher energy bills through higher food costs,” she explained. “This is why we are concerned about the rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific. The European Union has been very supportive of a free and open Indo-Pacific because an Indo-Pacific free of the threats of cohersion is key to all our stability to our peace, and to the prosperity of our people,” the foreign official said. Noting that there is a “broad roadmap” to bring EU’s and the Philippines’ partnership “to the next level,” the EC president called to “use the great momentum we have in our relationship.” Von der Leyen’s concerns are rooted in what she described as a “changing,” “volatile,” and “threatening” global geopolitical landscape. She cited how authoritarian leaders “show that they are willing to act on their threats” and how “Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine shakes the foundation of the international order.”
(From left) European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (Ali Vicoy/MANILA BULLETIN)
EC President Ursula von der Leyen met with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in Malacañang on Monday, July 31. During a joint press conference after their meeting, the EC chief stressed that the “illegal use of force cannot be tolerated” either in Ukraine by Russian forces or in the Indo-Pacific region. “The European Unipn underlines that the 2016 award of (the) arbitral tribunal on the South China Sea is legally binding and that provides the basis for peaceful resolving dispute between the parties,” she said. The commission is the body that shapes the EU’s overall strategy, and is currently “stepping up its strategic engagement with the broader Indo-Pacific region,” a statement posted on EU’s website said. “We are ready to strengthen the cooperation with the Philippines on maritime security in the region by sharing information, conducting threat assessment, and building capacity of your National Coast Watch Center in your Coast Guard,” she added. The 2016 Arbitral Award struck down China’s nine-dash line theory, the basis of its sweeping claims in the South China Sea, part of which are claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Brunei. China has denied recognition of the ruling, and has accused the United States and other western countries of interfering in what it calls a regional dispute. But Von der Leyen stressed that “security in Europe and security in the Indo-Pacific is indivisible” because of the globalized world. “Challenges to the rules-based order in our interconnected world affect all of us. Our societies pay through higher energy bills through higher food costs,” she explained. “This is why we are concerned about the rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific. The European Union has been very supportive of a free and open Indo-Pacific because an Indo-Pacific free of the threats of cohersion is key to all our stability to our peace, and to the prosperity of our people,” the foreign official said. Noting that there is a “broad roadmap” to bring EU’s and the Philippines’ partnership “to the next level,” the EC president called to “use the great momentum we have in our relationship.” Von der Leyen’s concerns are rooted in what she described as a “changing,” “volatile,” and “threatening” global geopolitical landscape. She cited how authoritarian leaders “show that they are willing to act on their threats” and how “Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine shakes the foundation of the international order.”