"Deeply concerning."

This was how European Union Ambassador to the Philippines Luc Veron described China's move to install a floating barrier around Scarborough Shoal Bajo, also known as Bajo de Masinloc.

In a tweet, Veron flagged China's newest actions in the West Philippine Sea, which now prevents Filipino fishermen from entering the shoal for their livelihood activities.

He said that China's action "disregards" the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea or UNCLOS.

"The installation of the floating barrier is dangerous, detrimental to the livelihoods of Philippines fishermen, and disregards the peace-driven objectives of UNCLOS," he said.

Over the weekend, the Philippine Coast Guard reported the presence of the floating barrier in the southeastern portion of Bajo de Masinloc, allegedly installed by the China Coast Guard.

Located 120 nautical miles from Zambales, Bajo de Masinloc is considered a traditional fishing ground for Filipinos in the West Philippine Sea.

The Philippines' Department of Foreign Affairs had already vowed to "take all necessary measures" to protect the country's sovereignty and the livelihood of affected Filipino fishermen.

"We will take all appropriate measures to protect our country's sovereignty and the livelihood of our fisherfolk," the DFA said in a statement.

China claims the vast South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea.

The 2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea invalidated Beijing's historic nine-dash line claim in the entire South China Sea.

Seven years after the Tribunal favored the Philippines' arbitral case against China, the ruling remains on paper as China continues to disregard it by going about its illegal activities in the West Philippine Sea.