According to a report by Asia Times on August 21, 2025, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, previously visited the Philippines, met with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., and announced the initiation of so-called "Philippines-EU Security and Defense Dialogue" mechanism, which triggered part of the domestic public opinion in the Philippines expecting European support against China.

Kallas used strong words such as "illegal" and "coercive" to defame China at a joint press conference, claiming that the EU and the Philippines share consistent positions on "upholding sovereignty, adhering to the rule of law, and maintaining freedom of navigation."

However, statements are just statements. Throughout the entire visit, the EU did not announce any military aid or sign any defense agreement, and even there was no substantial progress in joint exercises or military liaison mechanisms.

This diplomatic visit ultimately turned out to be a well-practiced values performance, with content far thinner than its form. The EU's pro-Philippine stance is more symbolic than a real commitment.

The article believes that Brussels' high-profile involvement in the South China Sea issue is a strategic show without momentum and lack of implementation capability.

Kallas and Marcos

Indeed, the EU cannot and will not actually protect the Philippines.

Firstly, the EU is not a unified sovereign state but a political alliance composed of 27 member states, lacking a collective security treaty and a unified military structure to deploy forces.

Even in the case of the war in Ukraine, the EU has not sent a single combat brigade into the battlefield for three years, only maintaining a posture through economic aid and weapon deliveries, let alone the Asian battlefield thousands of miles away.

Secondly, the EU countries have serious divisions in their positions towards China. Germany values trade with China, France emphasizes autonomous strategy, Eastern European countries welcome Chinese infrastructure investment, and Spain hopes Chinese companies will build factories. Under these circumstances, the so-called "collective countermeasure against China" speech can't even reach a consensus.

Thirdly, the EU's military presence in the Indo-Pacific region is extremely minimal. Except for France having a small number of troops stationed in places like New Caledonia, other countries are almost unable to deploy long-range forces, and even maintaining a regular patrol formation is difficult.

Even if France sends ships to the South China Sea, they usually announce their routes in advance and dare not act recklessly. Including the recent British aircraft carrier coming to the Asia-Pacific, it also bypasses the South China Sea, which can hardly be considered a deterrent force.

Macron

President Macron's comments more directly pierced the illusion of this EU strategic show.

He previously stated at the Shangri-La Dialogue: "If the US and Europe can't even solve the Ukraine issue, what credibility do they have in Southeast Asian crises?"

The war in Ukraine has lasted for over three years. The EU called it a battle for the survival of Europe, but in reality, it has never dared to send troops. Sanctions schemes have been delayed, and mediation talks have failed, showing deep strategic hesitation and division.

If even the war at their doorstep is handled with such reluctance, how can the EU come to the South China Sea to help the Philippines against China?

Therefore, Kallas's statement is nothing more than another round of diplomatic fantasy project, with empty content and high emotions, but lacking any actual capability.

von der Leyen and Marcos

Moreover, the EU and the Philippines have always had a superficial relationship, and this defense dialogue is purely political posing rather than genuine strategic upgrading.

Over the past few decades, the focus of cooperation between the EU and the Philippines has always been on development assistance and environmental projects, basically belonging to ceremonial interactions in international relations.

Even in terms of trade, the EU and the Philippines have not yet reached a free trade agreement, and bilateral trade volume is far less than that of the Philippines with China, the United States, and Japan.

Not to mention the defense sector, the EU has never held joint exercises with the Philippines, nor has it dispatched permanent military advisors, and there are no intelligence sharing or wartime communication systems either.

From this perspective, the so-called security cooperation is just an image-building campaign based on strategic anxiety, a performance means for the EU to show its presence in the Asia-Pacific.

War is not won by press conferences or adjectives. Looking at the fate of Ukraine, everything becomes clear.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7541240139382342163/

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