France has said it is opposing any action in the South China Sea that will escalate tension in the volatile Indo-Pacific region. The French Embassy in Manila issued the statement on Tuesday, warning that it is following the recent events in the highly-contested waterway “with the utmost attention” after China’s yet another dangerous maneuver against the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). Recalling its commitment to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, France said respect for international law, particularly the freedom of navigation, is one of its “priorities for action.” “We are opposed to any action that increases tensions and jeopardizes regional stability and the international order based on the rule of law,” it said. On April 23, a near collision incident between Chinese and Philippine vessels occurred when China’s coast guard tried to block the path of its Filipino counterpart in the Ayungin Shoal, a part of the Philippine territory. The incident raised yet another concern of other countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada, as it was not the only time that China conducted such action against Filipinos in Philippine waters.