China's growing assertiveness in the South China Sea, which Manila's defence chief claimed was "the sole cause of tensions" and conflicts in the disputed waters, is one of the counter-security challenges that Germany and the Philippines agreed to expedite the finalisation of defence agreement. This agreement would facilitate joint military training and potentially the sale of German weapons.

Both delegations expressed the desire to forge long-term ties between their military services and celebrate 70 years of diplomatic relations between the two nations. Additionally, the delegations pledged to increase the scope of bilateral exchanges, collaborative ventures, and defence training routines.

The recent spate of altercations in the disputed South China Sea zones has led to heightened tensions between Beijing and Manila.

Manila asserted in June of this year that, while on a resupply mission on the Second Thomas Shoal, China had crashed into its navy ships. Filipino sailors were gravely hurt in the incident at the time. Taiwan's defence forces, another nation under Chinese expansionism, have also recorded multiple Chinese aircraft incursions into their airspace in July of this year.

China continues to assert its dominance over most of the South China Sea, even after the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled in 2016 that Beijing's claims were unfounded.

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea served as the foundation for the ruling (UNCLOS). China, however, rejected it.

As per a news report, Philippines Defence Minister Teodoro stated, “There is only one cause of conflict in the South China Sea … It is China’s illegal and unilateral attempt to appropriate most, if not all, of the South China Sea as their internal waters.

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.”

Days, after the US promised $500 million in military financing to modernise the Philippine army, Manila and Berlin took action. Minister Boris Pistorius's trip to the Philippines was the first one planned by a German minister of defence.

China asserts its jurisdiction over the majority of the South China Sea, encompassing regions that Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia assert as exclusive economic zones. Beijing's accusations lacked legal support; the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague declared in 2016. China disagrees with that ruling.

Over $3 trillion in shipborne trade passes through the South China Sea annually, making it an essential trading route.

Image source:  Reuters