Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the recent close naval encounter and near collision of United States and Russian ships in the East China Sea, whether there has been any reassessment of the rules relating to such incidents to avoid the possibility of dangerous escalation.

We are aware of this incident. There are clear international rules governing navigation which are vital to ensure the safety of all mariners, both military and civilians. We urge all countries to adhere to these rules. We do not believe that there is a need at this stage to review the rules themselves.