UK concerned by ‘dangerous’ acts vs. PH vessels in South China Sea — envoy

The United Kingdom (UK) has expressed concern over the supposed “dangerous conduct” against Filipino vessels in the South China Sea, British Ambassador to the Philippines Laure Beaufils said on Monday.

The ambassador made the remark a week after a China Coast Guard ship cut off Philippine Coast Guard vessel BRP Malapascua on April 23 at the Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal) in the Spratly Islands, which caused a near-collision.

“The UK is concerned by continued reports of dangerous conduct towards Filipino vessels in the South China Sea,” Beaufils said in a tweet.

She added that the UK remains committed to international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), in the South China Sea.

In March, Beaufils said the AUKUS security bloc consisting of Australia, UK, and the United States will support the Philippines and neighboring countries by helping deter threats to a rules-based international order and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea amid escalating tensions in the contested waters.

The Philippines, which has filed more than 200 diplomatic protests against Beijing’s aggressive behavior in the West Philippine Sea since last year, welcomed the launching of the AUKUS security alliance as a counterbalance to China in the region.

For his part, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said he has taken up with the Chinese government the near crash incident of the Philippine and China vessels.

China said the near-collision was caused by the Philippine Coast Guard’s "premeditated and provocative action,” but the latter stressed that its maritime patrol in the West Philippine Sea was “non-provocative."—Giselle Ombay/AOL, GMA Integrated News