UK envoy says maritime law, UNCLOS necessary vs. China's militarism in South China Sea

British Ambassador to the Philippines Laure Beaufils on Monday said the United Kingdom would continue to adhere to the international maritime law when it comes to dealing with territorial issues in the South China Sea.

Facing reporters after her courtesy call on President-elect Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., Beaufils was asked on how the UK could help the Marcos administration temper China’s militarism in the South China Sea, and on ensuring freedom of navigation in the region.

Beaufils, in response, said the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) should take precedence over the matter.

"The UK is also a maritime nation, we're really focused on international law...  international maritime law in particular and UNCLOS, so we've been working in particular, very closely with the Philippines in the past and we will continue to do so to support maritime law through training, but also through joint exercises," she said.

Beaufils noted that there are British vessels currently in the region.

"We'll continue to work with all partners in maintaining the international maritime law and UNCLOS and the 2016 arbitral award as we move forward in the years to come," Beaufils said.

In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands, following a case filed by the Philippines, invalidated China's sweeping claims over the waters.

Beijing has not recognized the ruling.

China’s presence in the resource-rich region demonstrates its resolve to assert claims over the waters, while ignoring calls from several countries backing the Philippines, such as the United States, Japan, Australia, United Kingdom, New Zealand to leave and cease raising tensions in the area.

Marcos earlier said his administration would defend the country's sovereignty by talking to China  "with a firm voice."

He also expressed belief that the Philippines does not need to go to war with China to assert its claim over the vast West Philippine Sea. —KBK, GMA News