Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the tactics deployed by Chinese vessels against the Philippines on 9 and 10 December in the South China Sea.

The UK condemns the unsafe and escalatory tactics taken by Chinese vessels against the Philippines on 9 and 10 December in the South China Sea. The UK opposes any action which raises tensions, including harassment, unsafe conduct and intimidation tactics which increase the risk of miscalculation and threaten regional peace and stability. The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) sets out the legal framework that governs all activities in the ocean and seas. We oppose any claims that are not founded in UNCLOS. Both China and the Philippines must adhere to the findings of the 2016 Arbitral Award proceedings, which are legally binding on both parties. This position is reflected in an FCDO Spokesperson statement of 11 December, which was issued in response to the latest incidents. The UK will continue to support regional partners through an enhanced programme of maritime capacity building in Southeast Asia which provides training and funding to strengthen regional capacity on maritime law and security.