German Chancellor Merkel supports the Philippines in its lawsuit against China.
According to RFI, the maritime dispute between the Philippines and China continued to occupy a high position on the agenda of the talks between Philippine President Benigno Aquino and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on September 20 in Berlin. This was the final leg of Mr. Aquino’s four-country tour of Europe, which took him to Madrid, Brussels and Paris.
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| German Chancellor Angela Merkel receives Philippine President Aquino (Source: Inquirer) |
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Speaking at a joint press conference in Berlin shortly after the Philippine President arrived in Germany, Merkel called on China to resolve territorial disputes with the Philippines and other parties through mechanisms established by international law, according to Philippine media.
When asked about what Germany could do to resolve sovereignty disputes in the East Sea, Ms. Merkel emphasized that the world currently has international institutions to resolve this issue. On that basis, the German leader said that "a peaceful and diplomatic approach is always the preferred method... That is the path we need to choose."
For his part, President Aquino said he and Mrs. Merkel "share the belief" that the dispute "must be resolved peacefully and must be based on international law."
Before Germany, the Philippine President also sought the support of the EU, Spain and France on the East Sea issue. From European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso to French President Francois Hollande, all believed that the East Sea dispute must be resolved peacefully, on the basis of international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
On September 20, Philippine President Aquino left Berlin for the United States.
According to Vietnam+
