The United Kingdom (UK) and Canada have expressed concern over the supposed “dangerous conduct” against Philippine vessels in the South China Sea.
A photo from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) showing a Chinese ship cutting into the path of its vessel. (Ted Alibi/AFP)
On Twitter, British Ambassador to the Philippines Laure Beaufils called out the dangerous actions toward Filipino vessels.
“The UK is concerned by continued reports of dangerous conduct towards Filipino vessels in the South China Sea,” she said in a May 1 post.
The envoy added that the UK remains committed to international law, particularly the United Nations Conventions on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in the South China Sea.
She issued the statement after a China Coast Guard (CCG) ship cut off Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel BRP Malapascua on April 23 at the Ayungin Shoal, which is within Manila’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
This maritime incident at the shoal in the Spratly Islands caused a near-collision between China and Philippine coast guard vessels.
According to the PCG, it had spotted more than 100 Chinese vessels, including a warship and coast guard ships, during its maritime patrols in the West Philippine Sea from April 18 to 24.
In a separate post, Ambassador David Hartman also reiterated Canada’s call for “upholding the rules-based international order” in the contested waters.
“We are troubled by dangerous and unprofessional conduct in this region and unreservedly support the government of the Philippines in enforcing its sovereign rights within its EEZ,” his post read.
The Canadian ambassador said that “peace and stability” in the South China Sea are “essential to the interests” of the international community.
UK and Canada were the latest countries to express concern over the current situation in the disputed waters after Australia and United States.
But unlike the US, the three did not name China over its aggression and intrusion in Manila’s territorial waters in the South China Sea.