At the 61st Munich Security Conference in Germany, Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and China’s former Foreign Vice Minister Fu Ying engaged in a heated exchange over their nations’ competing territorial claims in the South China Sea.
The event, held from February 14 to 16, 2025, gathered over 150 ministers and more than 50 heads of state, including Manalo, who participated in high-level discussions aimed at advancing regional security, multilateral cooperation, and addressing global challenges.
The South China Sea dispute emerged as one of the most contentious topics of the conference.
Manalo, representing the Philippines, was a panelist at the session titled “Making Waves: Maritime Tensions in the Indo-Pacific” on February 15, 2025. In his remarks, Manalo emphasized the Philippines’ commitment to upholding its rights within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ), as defined by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
“Whenever the Philippines undertakes any kind of activity within our exclusive economic zone (EEZ), as defined by UNCLOS, we feel we are within our rights,” Manalo explained. He clarified that the Philippines’ actions are in full compliance with international law and are not intended to provoke conflict but rather to peacefully assert its sovereign rights.
The Philippines has long faced tensions over its territorial claims in the South China Sea, waters that are also claimed by China, which asserts dominion over nearly the entire sea through its controversial “nine-dash line”.
The Philippines’ EEZ, as defined by UNCLOS, includes waters also claimed by China, fueling the ongoing dispute. Manalo’s statement reflected the Philippines’ commitment to protecting its rights in these contested waters.
The Philippines’ foreign secretary continued by underscoring the importance of international law in resolving disputes. “But when another country, let’s say, applies its own domestic laws to certain areas within our exclusive economic zone, then it really does create the kind of tension that we have been experiencing, especially over the last two years,” he said without naming China.
His remarks highlighted the escalating tension in the region, with concerns that China’s increasingly aggressive stance could lead to conflict if not addressed. Manalo also emphasized that the Philippines seeks peaceful solutions, asserting its rights in the region through lawful means.
For her part, Fu acknowledged the long-standing nature of the South China Sea dispute but framed it within the context of increasing U.S. involvement in the region.
“What concerns China now is the shadow of the U.S. behind the claimants. That alerts the Chinese side. There’s a greater concern about losing these territories. We cannot lose them,” Fu said, signaling China’s growing concerns about the influence of the U.S. in Southeast Asia.
Fu’s comments underscored the broader geopolitical context, with China viewing U.S. involvement as complicating the dispute. China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea are seen as a critical part of Beijing’s strategic objectives in the region, and Fu’s remarks reflected the growing concern over potential U.S. influence undermining China’s ambitions.
Manalo, however, directly addressed Fu’s portrayal of the situation. When Fu suggested that the South China Sea was “quite peaceful”, Manalo disagreed, pointing to the persistent tensions and the potential for further escalation. “There’s not a conflict, but there’s certainly high tensions and the potential for the tensions to even rise further,” Manalo responded.
He stressed that the Philippines’ position is rooted in adherence to international law, which he argued provides the best framework for resolving territorial disputes without resorting to violence.
“Our basic point is we have to follow international law as agreed. And in this case, the (UNCLOS),” Manalo said. He reiterated that the Philippines remains committed to peaceful dispute resolution and that countries exercising their rights under international law should not face repercussions for doing so.
Fu, in turn, criticized the Philippines’ continued occupation of Ayungin Shoal and Escoda Shoal, both located within the Philippines’ EEZ. She argued that these actions violate the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), an agreement signed by China and Southeast Asian nations to promote peaceful resolution of disputes and freedom of navigation.
She referred to the Philippines’ actions as “a kind of naughtiness (that) shouldn’t be encouraged,” framing them as provocative actions against China’s territorial claims.
“I remember that language, ‘not to make more moves’. That language was watered down with the Filipino request in order for the Philippines to also sign up. So, we all agreed,” Fu recalled, referring to a past agreement on the management of disputes in the South China Sea.
Meanwhile, Manalo strongly rejected the assessment that the Philippines had been “too forward-leaning” in asserting its rights against China, emphasizing that the Philippines’ actions are consistent with international law and supported by many countries in the region.
“No, I don’t think I could agree with that,” Manalo responded. He pointed out that the Philippines’ stance is backed by countries such as Japan, Australia, Canada, and many members of the European Union.
“I haven’t heard any country really come out against what we’ve been doing except for one,” he remarked, underscoring the broad international support for the Philippines’ position.
Despite their sharp differences, both Manalo and Fu agreed on the importance of regional stability. Manalo reiterated the Philippines’ commitment to dialogue and peaceful dispute resolution.
“Countries which are exercising their rights in accordance with that law should have the right to exercise that law,” he said, urging all parties involved to respect international law and collaborate to prevent further escalation.
Photo credit: Department of Foreign Affairs. Philippines’ Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo at the 61st Munich Security Conference, held from February 14 to 16, 2025, in Munich, Germany.
