From September 13 to 20 Philippine President Aquino will meet with the principal heads of state and governments of the European Union. He intends to submit a proposal - a plan of action "in three parts" - to resolve disputes in the South China Sea. He asks for the support, even "tacit", of France and Germany.

Manila (AsiaNews/Agencies) - The Philippine president Aquino Benin will seek the help of European leaders to resolve territorial disputes with Beijing in the disputed waters of the South China Sea. This is according to an official source at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Manila, noting that in the week long official visit to the European Union, he will meet with (among others), the Heads of State and Government of France and Germany. Aquino also intends to present his proposal, which aims to stop China from possible new moves that can worsen the tension in a strategic area for maritime traffic and trade.

Zeneida Collinson, a senior official of the Philippines Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reports that in all the meetings, starting with the one with Spain, Aquino will seek support for "the Philippine position" in reference to the dispute in the West Philippine Sea. The fact the member of the Philippine delegation used the local name, and not the more frequent the South China Sea, to indicate the portion of land in the center of the dispute is notable.  

The Philippine president hopes to argue their case in person, in front of the executive and official representations of Madrid, Belgium, France, Germany, during the diplomatic trip scheduled September 13 to 20. It provides for a "triple action plan", under which China and the other actors are called upon to avoid provocative actions. The official clarifies that their support can also be "tacit" and there is no need for official documents.

A key step, because it seems unlikely that the governments of half of Europe will openly antagonize China on an issue that has already opened several fronts of discussion and contrast. Both in the Asia-Pacific region and international arena with the United States.

Last month Manila lodges an official complaint of Beijing over the growing presence of Chinese patrol boats in the Reed Bank, the scene of the clash between the two navies in 2012 In addition, in recent days, the Philippine authorities have arrested three men who planned attacks - among other locations - on the Chinese Embassy in Manila. A violent nationalist response to Chinese expansionist ambitions, as was previously the case in Vietnam, where there have been attacks on foreign companies with dead and wounded.

Vietnam and the Philippines have been increasingly worried about Beijing's imperialism in the South China and East China seas. They have even lobbied the UN to intervene. The Chinese government claims most of the sea (almost 85 per cent), including sovereignity over the disputed Spratly and Paracel islands, in opposition to Vietnam, Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei and Malaysia.  For the United States, which backs the claims of Southeast Asia nations, Beijing's so-called 'cow tongue' line is both "illegal" and "irrational". Anyone with a hegemonic sway over the region would have a strategic advantage, in terms of seabed (oil and gas) development, but also in trade since two thirds of the world's maritime traffic goes through it.

• philippines
• china
• european
• union
• east
• chinese
• sea
• sovereignity
• disputed
• land