Spratly Islands
Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
Mr Mark Simmonds (Shadow Minister, Education; Boston and Skegness, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place between Her Majesty's Government and (a) China, (b) Taiwan, (c) Vietnam, (d) Malaysia and (e) the Philippines regarding territorial claims on the Spratly Islands.
Mr Denis MacShane (Minister of State (Europe), Foreign & Commonwealth Office; Rotherham, Labour)
The status of the Spratly Islands is an issue for the parties disputing sovereignty to resolve. The Government welcomes regional confidence building measures and commitments to find a peaceful resolution to the dispute.