MANILA, Philippines (AP) 鈥 Germany and the Philippines agreed Sunday to rapidly finalize a defense pact that would allow joint military training and possible sale of German weapons to address security threats, including China鈥檚 growing aggression in the South China Sea, which Manila鈥檚 defense chief said was 鈥渢he sole cause of tensions鈥 and conflicts in the disputed waters.
China has long claimed much of the entire seaway, a key global trade and security route, and at all costs.
Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said the proposed Arrangement on Defense Cooperation that he and German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius discussed in talks in the capital, Manila, could be concluded as early as this year given current security concerns. Both underscored the need for countries to press diplomatic efforts under the U.N. Charter to attain 鈥渏ust and lasting peace鈥 from Ukraine to Asia鈥檚 flashpoints.
Without mentioning China by name, both defense chiefs expressed in a joint statement their strong opposition to 鈥渁ny unilateral attempt to advance expansive claims, especially through force or coercion.鈥 They also 鈥渞eaffirmed their staunch commitment to and other peaceful uses of the seas consistent with the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea."
The Philippines and its longtime treaty ally, the United States, and other Western countries have frequently accused China of undermining those international principles with Beijing鈥檚 increasingly hostile actions, including the use of powerful and other dangerous maneuvers against Philippine ships in the disputed South China Sea. Meanwhile, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos' administration has moved to with friendly Asian and Western governments.
Beijing has accused Washington of instigating trouble and threatening the stability of the region by boosting the deployment of U.S. forces, warships and jets and working with countries like the Philippines to try to contain China鈥檚 rise.
The proposed defense deal would allow joint training, possible weapons sale, security information sharing and closer collaboration between the German and Philippine armed forces, the defense chiefs said.
Responding to a question in a news conference with Pistorius, Teodoro said: 鈥淭here is only one cause of conflict in the South China Sea. ... It is China鈥檚 illegal and unilateral attempt to appropriate most, if not all, of the South China Sea as their internal waters."
"That is the sole cause of tensions,鈥 he added.
"The Philippines is not provoking China. We do not seek war, yet we are mandated not only by our constitution but as an obligation to our countrymen to protect whatever areas whether be jurisdiction or rights that rightfully belong to the exclusive benefit of Filipinos,鈥 Teodoro said.
Pistorius underscored Germany鈥檚 support for a 2016 arbitration ruling that invalidated China鈥檚 expansive claims in the South China Sea on historic grounds. The decision was based on the U.N. Convention of the Law of the Sea, or UNCLOS.
"This ruling remains valid without any exemptions,鈥 Pistorius said. 鈥淲e need to do more than stand up for UNCLOS. We need to contribute to de-escalation. This is only possible if we keep all channels of communication open including those with China.鈥
After an alarmingly violent June 17 confrontation in the Philippine-occupied Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea between Chinese forces, who were armed with knives, axe, and improvised spears, and Filipino navy personnel, China and the Philippines reached a temporary agreement last month to prevent further clashes that could spark a major armed conflict in the hotly disputed atoll.
A week after the deal was forged, Philippine government personnel transported food and other supplies to Manila鈥檚 territorial ship outpost at the shoal, which has been closely guarded by the Chinese coast guard and navy ships, and no confrontations were reported.
The longstanding territorial conflicts between the neighboring Asian countries, which also involve Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan, have continued, however, along with a scathing war of words.
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Associated Press video journalist Joeal Calupitan contributed to this report.
