British Foreign Secretary David Lammy on Monday condemned Beijing’s actions in the disputed South China Sea as “dangerous and destabilizing.” Over the past weekend, he visited the Philippines, which has frequent maritime conflicts with China, during which the two countries signed a joint framework agreement to enhance defense and security cooperation.
“We are concerned about China’s dangerous and destabilizing activities in the South China Sea,” Lammy posted on social media. “The security and stability of these trade routes are crucial for the UK and the global economy.”
In a video attached to his post, Lammy pointed out, “The Philippines is at the forefront of this issue, often facing challenges to freedom of navigation and international law.”
According to Agence France-Presse, the video was partly shot on a ship of the Philippine Coast Guard. Tensions frequently escalate between the Philippine Coast Guard and the Chinese Coast Guard, and Lammy’s visit to the Philippines took place against this backdrop.
China claims nearly sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, but a 2016 international arbitration ruling found that its claims lack legal basis.
To prevent the Philippines from accessing crucial reefs and islands in the South China Sea, Beijing has deployed navy and coast guard vessels, leading to a series of conflicts in recent months.
As tensions with China in the South China Sea intensify, the Philippines has been actively strengthening security cooperation with various countries, including the United Kingdom.
During his meeting with Philippine Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo on Saturday, Lammy signed a joint framework agreement with the Philippines to enhance defense and maritime cooperation.
At a press conference in Manila, Lammy stated, “This joint framework will help us promote more cooperation in defense, regional security, trade, technology, climate, and nature in the coming period.”
Last week, the Philippines also reached a similar security partnership agreement with Canada. Prior to this, the Philippines had signed security cooperation agreements with the United States, Australia, and Japan.
Last month, the United States condemned a Chinese navy helicopter for taking “dangerous” actions in the disputed waters of the South China Sea, threatening the safety of a Philippine government aircraft on a patrol mission.