Czech Republic backs PH’s right to freely navigate South China Sea

President of the Philippines Ferdinand Marcos (L) and Czech President Petr Pavel address a joint press conference after a meeting at Prague Castle on March 14, 2024, in the Czech capital. (Photo by Michal Cizek / AFP)

PRAGUE — Amid the worsening row over the South China Sea, the Czech Republic on Thursday backed the Philippines in its desire to ensure freedom of navigation in the disputed waters as disruption of trade routes would also negatively affect Europe.

Czech President Petr Pavel said the South China Sea may be far from their land-locked nation in Central Europe, but it was important for them to monitor developments in the ongoing territorial dispute.

“As to the South China Sea, we fully support the Philippines when it comes to their entitlement to the free movement of goods and also maritime transport, because that’s a principle that we all respect, but which also secures global and regional stability,” he said in a joint press conference with President Marcos after their tête-à-tête and bilateral meeting at Prague Castle here.

Speaking through a translator, Pavel added: “To us, the South China Sea may seem to be far, far away. But if you take into account the percentage of shares of world or global trade that passes through this area, any disruption of these routes would have an adverse impact on Europe, not only in the form of a shortage of goods but also soaring prices. Which is why we have to pay attention to this topic.”

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Pavel and Mr. Marcos sat down for bilateral talks on Thursday morning at the Prague Castle on the second day of Mr. Marcos’ state visit here.

The President was accompanied by foreign affairs secretary Enrique Manalo, trade secretary Alfredo Pascual, presidential communications office secretary Cheloy Garafil, Speaker Martin Romualdez, and Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri.

During the bilateral meeting, Mr. Marcos informed the Czech President of the situation in the West Philippine Sea, the part of the South China Sea that falls under the country’s exclusive economic zone.

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Asked to comment on the upcoming trilateral meeting on defense cooperation between United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, and Manalo, President Marcos said the three officials’ discussions on stronger defense cooperation were in relation to the “maintenance of peace in the South China Sea.”

However, he clarified that the stronger defense ties of the three nations were meant to ensure safe navigation and passage in the South China Sea as an important trade route that accounts for 60 percent of international trade.

“It’s with an eye, not to winning any kind of conflict, but really just to maintain the peace and to continue to defend the sovereignty and the sovereign rights of the Philippines when it comes to these international differences that we are having to deal with right now,” the President added.