MARCOS’ VISIT TO GERMANY TO BOOST DEFENSE TIES
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s visit to Germany from March 11 to 13 is expected to further strengthen defense cooperation between Manila and Berlin in the face of China’s assertiveness in the West Philippine Sea, Consul General Maria Yvette “Ivy” Banzon-Abalos of the Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt said Thursday.
In an interview, Banzon-Abalos said the two countries already have an existing agreement for Germany to enhance the Philippine Coast Guard’s capability to secure the country’s coastline.
“Germany is already helping us. We already have [an] existing cooperation [agreement] with Germany ... so
I think that will just strengthen with the President’s visit,” she told The Manila Times.
The scheduled visit of the President to Germany comes amid heightened tensions between the Philippines and China, both of whom claim territory in the South China Sea and have traded accusations of aggressive behavior in the strategic waterway.
On Wednesday, the President described as “worrisome” the recent developments in the West Philippine Sea, including the presence of the Chinese navy and interference with electronic communication capabilities of Philippine vessels. Banzon-Abalos said the President’s upcoming visit would be an opportune time to discuss pressing issues of common concern affecting both countries. “There’s a lot of potential in terms of the partnership so we’re hoping that the visit of the President will provide that political impetus to start the actual cooperation agreements,” she said.
During her visit to Manila in January, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said her government is ready to work with the Philippines to prevent a crisis from breaking out in the West Philippine Sea by helping it promote international law while strengthening its maritime security.
Baerbock called out China’s “claims for extensive maritime areas” and harassment against Filipino vessels in the West Philippine Sea.
“There are truly rough winds blowing across the South China Sea, and this is happening in the middle of one of the most economic regions of the world,” Baerbock said in an earlier media interview.
“The incidents over the recent months where the Chinese coast guard has used lasers and water cannons against Philippine resupply vessels — and even collisions happened — are of concern also for us in Europe, even though we’re thousands of kilometers away, because such risky maneuvers violate the rights and opportunities for
economic development of your own country and other littoral states as well,” she added.
China claims nearly the entire South China Sea, pointing to a line on its maps that cuts into the exclusive economic zones of Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia.
In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague said China’s claims had no legal basis. China has rejected that ruling.
Meanwhile, Banzon-Abalos said Germany has expressed interest in hiring not only Filipino nurses, but also other skilled workers like engineers and those in the hospitality industry.
“The German laws have recently been relaxed because they have a labor shortage. So we expect a lot of Filipinos to be coming to Germany to fill in those labor shortages,” she said.
Germany is home to 36,135 Filipinos as of December 2022, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.
Total trade with Germany reached $3.91 billion with exports valued at $2.28 billion and imports at $1.63 billion. In 2022, Germany ranked as the Philippines 12th biggest trading partner, 10th biggest export market and 15th biggest supplier.
Philippine-Germany diplomatic relations span 69 years since they were established on Oct. 8, 1954. The two countries are set to celebrate 70 years of diplomatic relations this year.