MANILA — The use of force under international law is "generally prohibited", a Philippine official said on Monday, after China authorized its coast guard to fire on foreign vessels in a move that could escalate tension in contested waters.

China's laws must follow obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which only allows the use of force in "well-defined exceptions" like self-defense and authorization from the UN Security Council, said Philippine presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.

• China authorizes coast guard to fire on foreign vessels if needed

"Iyong paggamit ng dahas ay generally prohibited," he told reporters in an online briefing.

(The use of force is generally prohibited.)

"Sana po, walang gagawin ang kahit anong bansa dito sa usaping West Philippine Sea na magpapalala pa po sa sitwasyon," added the official, using the name of Manila's claimed portion of the South China Sea.

(We hope that no country will do anything in the West Philippine Sea that would worsen the situation.)

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Beijing claims almost the entire resource-rich waterway and refuses to recognize a landmark arbitration award that invalidates it.

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Roque reiterated that President Rodrigo Duterte has been urging claimants to follow the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.

Paragraph 5 of the declaration states, "The Parties undertake to exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities that would complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability including, among others, refraining from action of inhabiting on the presently uninhabited islands, reefs, shoals, cays, and other features and to handle their differences in a constructive manner."

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China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which includes the Philippines and three other South China Sea claimants, are currently negotiating for a more binding Code of Conduct in the contested waters.

According to state media reports, China's top legislative body, the National People's Congress standing committee, passed its Coast Guard Law last Friday, that for the first time explicitly allows its coast guard to fire on foreign vessels.

Aside from the South China Sea, China also has maritime sovereignty disputes with Japan in the East China Sea.

Beijing previously sent its coast guard to chase away fishing vessels from other countries, sometimes resulting in the sinking of these vessels.

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According to draft wording in the bill published earlier, the coast guard is allowed to use "all necessary means" to stop or prevent threats from foreign vessels.

The bill specifies the circumstances under which different kind of weapons - hand-held, ship borne or airborne - can be used.

The bill allows coast guard personnel to demolish other countries' structures built on Chinese-claimed reefs and to board and inspect foreign vessels in waters claimed by China.

The bill also empowers the coastguard to create temporary exclusion zones "as needed" to stop other vessels and personnel from entering.

Responding to concerns, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Friday that the law is in line with international practices.

The first article of the bill explains that the law is needed to safeguard China's sovereignty, security and maritime rights.

- With a report from Reuters

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