DISPUTE IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA (EAST SEA)

That this House notes the escalation of tensions in the South China Sea (East Sea) following the deployment of the Chinese oil rig HD981; welcomes the statement of 8 May 2014 by the spokesperson of the EU High Representative and the recent statement by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on these incidents; and calls on all parties to exercise restraint, refrain from any unilateral action which could threaten peace and stability in the region and use peaceful means, according to relevant international laws, in particular the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea between ASEAN and China to resolve the dispute.