Philippines wants to strengthen cooperation with the EU in South China Sea

The European Union and representatives of countries in the Indo-Pacific region are meeting in Brussels for the fourth ministerial forum, which brings together around 70 participants from EU institutions and member states, countries in the Indo-Pacific, and regional organisations from the east coast of Africa to the Pacific island states.

This year's meeting focuses on the themes of resilience, prosperity and security. Each participant arrives with their own agenda and priorities.

For Philippine Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro the meeting is an opportunity to strengthen maritime cooperation in the face of Beijing's claims in the South China Sea.

Lazaro welcomes European support through its statements, but also through "a lot of support through the visits of EU member countries, frigates passing through the South China Sea and this gives a lot of impetus to relations."

Manila and Beijing have accused each other of being responsible for collisions and incidents in the contested waters in recent months. The Chinese authorities claim most of the South China Sea, which is contested by several other countries in the region.

The Philippines said it welcomes the participation of EU member states as observers in maritime exercises.

But Manila, which will hold the presidency of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2026, wants to go further at this forum in Brussels.

In Lazaro's view, this meeting is also about defending multilateralism. "That word multilateralism is all over the discussions between ASEAN and the EU," she said.

Beyond the situation in the Philippines, Lazaro sees this forum as an opportunity to offer perspectives on the EU's position in the Indo-Pacific.