The Philippine coast guard accused a Chinese coast guard ship of hitting one of its ships with a military-grade laser, temporarily blinding some of its crew in the disputed South China Sea.
A Chinese Coast Guard vessel with bow number 5205 directed “a military-grade laser light” at the Philippine Coast Guard vessel BRP Malapascua (MRRV-4403) on February 6 while supporting a rotation and replenishment mission. of the Philippine Navy at Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, the Philippine Coast Guard said in a statement on its Facebook page on Monday.
When BRP Malapascua reached a distance of 10 nautical meters from Ayungin Shoal, the Chinese vessel was monitored approximately 4 nautical meters from the ship’s bow maneuver from port to starboard. “The Chinese ship shone the green laser light twice towards the BRP Malapascua, temporarily blinding her crew on the bridge,” the statement said. “The Chinese vessel also performed dangerous maneuvers by approaching to within 150 yards from the starboard quarter of the vessel.”
As part of its deployment plan, BRP Malapascua altered course from Ayungin Shoal, also known as Second Thomas Shoal, which is a submerged reef that has been occupied by Philippine forces. Instead, the Philippine ship headed towards Lawak Island to continue its maritime patrol and support BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRRV-9701) for the Philippine Coast Guard’s own mission of rotating and supplying its substations in the Kalayaan group of islands. , according to the statement.
PHILIPPINES GIVES US GREATER MILITARY ACCESS AS TENSIONS WITH CHINA RISE
On February 6, 2023, a Chinese coast guard vessel directed a military-grade laser light at the Philippine coast guard vessel BRP MALAPASCUA (MRRV-4403) while supporting a rotation and replenishment mission, Philippine officials said. (Philippine Coast Guard)
“The deliberate blockade of Philippine government ships to deliver food and supplies to our military personnel aboard the BRP Sierra Madre is flagrant disregard and a clear violation of the sovereign rights of the Philippines in this part of the West Philippine Sea,” it said. The Philippine Coast Guard said Monday.
The Philippines has filed nearly 200 diplomatic protests against China’s aggressive actions in the disputed waters in 2022 alone.
China claims the South China Sea virtually in its entirety, putting it on a collision course with other claimants. Despite friendly overtures to Beijing by former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and his successor Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing in January, tensions persisted, leading to a closer military alliance between the Philippines and the US
The Chinese ship also maneuvered dangerously close, at about 449 feet, to prevent the Philippine patrol vessel BRP Malapascua from approaching Second Thomas Shoal, the Philippine coast guard said in a statement. (Philippine Coast Guard)
Although the Chinese coast guard had tried to blockade Philippine coast guard ships in disputed waters before, this was the first time it had used lasers and caused physical suffering among Philippine personnel, the Philippine coast guard spokesman told the Associated Press. , Commodore Armand Balilo.
A video released by the coast guard in Manila shows a Chinese coast guard ship crossing the path of a Philippine vessel from a distance. Subsequently, the Chinese ship emits a green laser-like light.
The Philippine military said it is time for China to stop its forces from committing “any provocative act that endangers people’s lives.” The spokesman, Colonel Medel Aguilar, told reporters that the Philippine defense chief considered the Chinese coast guard’s action “offensive and unsafe.”
The use of a military-grade laser light by a Chinese coast guard vessel temporarily blinded some crew members aboard the Philippine coast guard vessel. (Philippine Coast Guard)
In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said a Philippine coast guard ship illegally entered Chinese waters without permission on February 6. he said, without elaborating and mentioning the use of lasers.
“We hope the Philippines will sincerely respect China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea and avoid any action that may lead to expansion of the dispute and complication of the situation,” Wang said in response to a he asks in a daily press conference. “China and the Philippines maintain communication through diplomatic channels on the matter.”
The Philippines said China’s blockade of a food and supply mission constituted “blatant disregard for and a clear violation of the sovereign rights of the Philippines.” (Philippine Coast Guard)
The Chinese coast guard also prevented Philippine ships escorting a supply ship from approaching Second Thomas Shoal in August, the Philippine coast guard said. At that time, one of the two Chinese ships joined by two Chinese civilian ships removed the cover on its 70mm gun, the coast guard said, adding that it would not be deterred by China’s aggression to protect sovereignty. Philippine in disputed sea.
Aside from China and the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei also have overlapping claims to the active, resource-rich waterway, where most of the world’s trade and oil transit.
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The United States does not claim the disputed sea, but has deployed forces to patrol the waters to promote freedom of navigation and overflight, moves that angered Beijing, which has warned Washington to stop meddling in what it says is a purely Asian dispute.
The US Navy and Marine Corps held joint exercises in the South China Sea over the weekend at a time of heightened tension with Beijing over the downing of a suspected Chinese spy balloon. The AP reported that the United States has been taking steps to rebuild its military might in the Philippines more than 30 years after closing its major bases in the country and reinforcing an arc of military alliances in Asia.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
