On Sunday 21 November, the spokesman for the European External Action Service denounced Chinese actions in the South China Sea in recent days and months, including Chinese coastguard vessels blocking two Filipino supply ships on their way to the Second Thomas Shoal.
The Second Thomas Shoal lies within the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf of the Philippines, according to a 2016 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) arbitration award.
“The EU reiterates its strong opposition to any unilateral actions that endanger peace, security and stability in the region and the international rules-based order”, the spokesman said in a statement. He recalled the importance for all parties to respect the freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea.
The spokesman therefore urged all parties to resolve disputes by peaceful means, in accordance with international law, in particular UNCLOS, including its dispute settlement mechanisms.
He also highlighted support for the ASEAN-led process to develop a code of conduct in the South China Sea, “which should be effective, substantive and legally binding, and not prejudice the interests of third parties”. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)