EU special envoy to the Indo-Pacific region Richard Tibbels (Photo: AP)

He said in Malina that the EU intends to increase its naval presence in the South China Sea (called the East Sea in Vietnam), in order to show its importance, to help uphold freedom of mobility and international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

About 40% of the EU’s foreign trade transits through the South China Sea, making stability and freedom of navigation key concerns.

However, Tibbels insisted that the EU is "not in the business of geopolitical rivalry," instead looking forward to open cooperation for the joint interests – something that ASEAN countries are also interested in.

He reiterated the EU's support for ASEAN's efforts to negotiate with China on a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC).

He said the EU is also ready to provide satellite surveillance to help countries in the region respond to natural disasters.