Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen held a joint news conference in Manila, Philippines. Von der Leyen highlighted Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a warning against China’s assertive actions in the Indo-Pacific region and Taiwan. She emphasized the EU’s commitment to not tolerate aggression in either region. The leaders also announced the resumption of negotiations for a free trade agreement between the EU and the Philippines. Von der Leyen expressed the importance of security cooperation and support for Ukraine’s fight against aggression. She stressed that security in both Europe and the Indo-Pacific is interconnected and affects all nations. Without directly naming China, von der Leyen reaffirmed the EU’s recognition of a U.N.-backed tribunal’s decision that invalidated China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea. This visit marks an improvement in EU-Philippines relations after a period of tension over human rights issues. Von der Leyen later spoke at a business forum in Manila, where she criticized China’s increasingly aggressive actions and their impact on regional and global stability. She urged Asian nations to diversify their energy and raw material suppliers, drawing attention to Russia’s attempt to manipulate European countries’ gas supply. Von der Leyen stated that the Philippines should consider processing its nickel ore domestically to create more jobs and added value. China had no immediate response to her remarks. The European Commission President expressed optimism about the future of EU-Philippines relations under Marcos, highlighting shared values of democracy, prosperity, the rule of law, peace, stability, and human rights.
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