I thank the Rt Hon Member for her series of questions on the situation in Venezuela. For the most recent statement of the UK's position, I refer the Rt Hon Member to the Foreign Secretary's statement on 5 January, and her responses in the subsequent debate. We will keep the House updated on developments in the normal way in due course.

Specifically on the issue of Guyana's sovereignty, I refer her to the answer provided on 12 January in response to Question 103713; on the issue of sanctions, I remind her that it has been the long-standing position under successive governments not to discuss potential designations, as to do so would undermine their effectiveness; and on the issue of drug-trafficking, I refer the Rt Hon Member to the responses provided in the Urgent Question debate on 3 December.

I thank the Rt Hon Member for her series of questions on the situation in Venezuela. For the most recent statement of the UK's position, I refer the Rt Hon Member to the Foreign Secretary's statement on 5 January, and her responses in the subsequent debate. We will keep the House updated on developments in the normal way in due course.

Specifically on the issue of Guyana's sovereignty, I refer her to the answer provided on 12 January in response to Question 103713; on the issue of sanctions, I remind her that it has been the long-standing position under successive governments not to discuss potential designations, as to do so would undermine their effectiveness; and on the issue of drug-trafficking, I refer the Rt Hon Member to the responses provided in the Urgent Question debate on 3 December.

I thank the Rt Hon Member for her series of questions on the situation in Venezuela. For the most recent statement of the UK's position, I refer the Rt Hon Member to the Foreign Secretary's statement on 5 January, and her responses in the subsequent debate. We will keep the House updated on developments in the normal way in due course.

Specifically on the issue of Guyana's sovereignty, I refer her to the answer provided on 12 January in response to Question 103713; on the issue of sanctions, I remind her that it has been the long-standing position under successive governments not to discuss potential designations, as to do so would undermine their effectiveness; and on the issue of drug-trafficking, I refer the Rt Hon Member to the responses provided in the Urgent Question debate on 3 December.

I refer the Hon Member to the statement made to the House by the Foreign Secretary on 5 January, and her responses to questions raised in that debate. Furthermore, let me point out the Essequibo border was settled more than 125 years ago, through international arbitration. The UK's support for Guyana's sovereignty is unwavering. We will continue to work with allies and regional partners to avoid escalation in tensions on the Venezuela/Guyana border.

I refer the Hon Member to the statement made to the House by the Foreign Secretary on 5 January, and her responses to questions raised in that debate. Furthermore, let me point out the Essequibo border was settled more than 125 years ago, through international arbitration. The UK's support for Guyana's sovereignty is unwavering. We will continue to work with allies and regional partners to avoid escalation in tensions on the Venezuela/Guyana border.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer provided on 12 January 2026 to Question 103712.

We are concerned about China's excessive maritime claims in the South China Sea, which have been ruled inconsistent with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The UK opposes any maritime claims which are not founded in UNCLOS. We take no sides in sovereignty disputes but we encourage parties to settle disputes peacefully through existing legal mechanisms, particularly UNCLOS.

The Overseas Business Risk service provides information on various risks in overseas markets. UK government staff in country produce these guides with specific information provided per country. These can be found on: Overseas Business Risk - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The FCDO does not have a fixed policy on whether to attend international meetings in disputed territories. Attendance is assessed on a case-by-case basis in accordance with UK interests.

In the South China Sea, our commitment is to international law, in particular the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and to freedom of navigation and overflight. We take no position on sovereignty disputes and encourage all parties to settle their disputes peacefully through the existing legal mechanisms, including UNCLOS. We oppose any action which changes the situation on the ground, raises tensions or hinders the chances of peaceful settlement of the disputes.

The UK is committed to engaging with South East Asian countries in support of shared prosperity and regional stability. We are working with allies to strengthen regional capacity on maritime law and security, including with South China Sea claimants, through a programme of dialogues, training, and conferences. In July 2021, the then Minister for Asia signed a new Maritime Security Partnership with Vietnam, which will enhance the UK's bilateral maritime capacity cooperation. The Foreign Secretary discussed the South China Sea and regional security with counterparts during her most recent visit to SE Asia on 6-12 November.

The UK welcomes negotiations between China and ASEAN countries for an effective and substantive Code of Conduct for claimants' activities. We continue to make clear that the text should support and complement UNCLOS and reflect the legitimate interests of third countries, including the UK.  This was stated most recently in the Chair's statement on 12 December following the first meeting between G7 Foreign and Development Ministers and ASEAN member States.

Planning for the inaugural deployment of HMS Queen Elizabeth in 2021 as part of a Carrier Strike Group continues. It will be an ambitious deployment which demonstrates the UK's commitment to upholding a rules based international system and showcases our world-leading carrier capability. Once plans for the deployment have been agreed, the Government will make a statement to the House.

This issue features regularly in Ministerial discussions with regional counterparts including those from China, Japan and the nations of South East Asia. Ministers and senior officials also regularly attend multilateral meetings which cover the issue, most recent the Shangri-La dialogue in Singapore in June this year.

The UK does not take sides or support any sovereignty claim over another. Our commitment is to the impartial and independant operation of international law and freedom of navigation and overflight. The UK opposes militarisation of the South China Sea and we urge all parties to respect freedom of navigation and settle their disputes peacefully in accordance with international law.

We are monitoring developments in the Doklam region closely. The Minister for Asia and the Pacific raised it with the Indian High Commissioner on 19 July, and UK officials have recently discussed it with the Government of China. Both expressed concern and the UK's hope that India and China reach a peaceful resolution.

We call on all parties to exercise restraint and ensure channels of dialogue remain open as a means to resolving differences.

The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip (Boris Johnson), raised the South China Sea with Chinese State Councillor Yang Jiechi during the UK-China Strategic Dialogue in London on 20 December. He noted the importance of abiding by international law in the South China Sea and refraining from activities which could raise tensions. As the Foreign Secretary has since stressed in a speech on 18 January, we oppose the militarisation of the South China Sea and we urge all parties to respect freedom of navigation and settle their disputes peacefully in accordance with international law. We regard last year's ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague as binding on both China and the Philippines.

The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt Hon Friend the Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip (Boris Johnson), has not had discussions with his Philippine counterpart on building on disputed islands in the South China Sea. However, I discussed the situation in the South China Sea with Philippine interlocutors when I visited Manila in December, underlining the British Government's well known position. As the Foreign Secretary made clear in a speech on 18 January, we oppose the militarisation of the South China Sea and we urge all parties to respect freedom of navigation and settle their disputes peacefully in accordance with international law. We regard last year's ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague as binding on both China and the Philippines.

The UK is concerned about any actions in the South China Sea which might raise tensions or pose a risk to freedom of navigation and regional stability. As the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip (Boris Johnson), made clear in a speech on 18 January, we oppose the militarisation of the South China Sea.

The Foreign Secretary raised the South China Sea with Chinese State Councillor Yang Jiechi during the UK-China Strategic Dialogue in London on 20 December. He noted the importance of abiding by international law in the South China Sea and refraining from activities which could raise tensions.

Whilst the UK does not take a position on underlying sovereignty claims to the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands, we have a clear interest in maintaining regional peace and stability. We regularly discuss East Asian regional security issues with our international partners.

Whilst the UK does not take a position on the underlying question of sovereignty, we have a clear interest in maintaining regional peace and stability. We have urged both China and Japan to resolve the matter peacefully and in accordance with international law.