The Philippine Coast Guard has accused a Chinese coast guard vessel of hitting one of its vessels with a military-grade laser, temporarily blinding some crew members 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 Feb. 6 while supporting a Philippine Navy rotation and replenishment mission at Ayungin Shoal in the western 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 within approximately 4 nautical meters of vessel maneuvering from the port side to starboard. “The Chinese vessel flashed green laser light towards BRP Malapascua twice, causing temporary blindness to her bridge crew,” the statement read. “The Chinese vessel also made dangerous maneuvers approaching within about 150 yards of the vessel’s starboard quarter.”
As part of its deployment plan, BRP Malapascua altered its course from Ayungin Shoal, also known as Second Thomas Shoal, which is a submerged reef that has been occupied by Philippine forces. Instead, the vessel headed for Lawak Island to continue her maritime patrol and support BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRRV-9701) for the Philippine Coast Guard rotation and resupply mission at her substations in the island group of Kalayaan, the statement said.
PHILIPPINES GRANT US GREATER MILITARY ACCESS AS TENSIONS WITH MOUNT OF CHINA
On Feb. 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 refueling mission, Philippine officials said. (Philippine Coast Guard)
“The deliberate blocking of Philippine government vessels from delivering food and supplies to our military personnel aboard the BRP Sierra Madre is a flagrant disregard and clear violation of the sovereign rights of the Philippines in this part of the West Philippine Sea,” Lo said the Philippine Coast Guard on Monday.
The Philippines has filed nearly 200 diplomatic protests against China’s aggressive actions in disputed waters in 2022 alone.
China claims the South China Sea in virtually its entirety, putting it on a collision course with other claimants. Despite friendly overtures to Beijing by former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte and his successor, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in January in Beijing, tensions persisted, leading to a closer alliance between the Philippines and the United States
The Chinese vessel also maneuvered perilously close, at about 449 feet, to prevent the Philippine patrol boat BRP Malapascua from approaching Second Thomas Shoal, the Philippine Coast Guard said in a statement. (Philippine Coast Guard)
Although the Chinese coast guard had previously attempted to block Philippine coast guard vessels in disputed waters, this was the first time it had used lasers and caused physical suffering among Philippine personnel, a Philippine coast guard spokesman told the Associated Press. , Commodore Armand Balilo.
A video released by the Manila Coast Guard shows a Chinese coast guard vessel crossing the path of a Philippine vessel from afar. A laser-like green light is later emitted by the Chinese ship.
The Philippine military said it was time for China to stop its forces from committing “any provocative act that endangers people’s lives”. Spokesman Colonel Medel Aguilar told reporters that the Philippines’ defense chief deemed the action by the Chinese coast guard “offensive and dangerous”.
A Chinese coast guard vessel’s use of a military-grade laser light 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 vessel entered Chinese waters without permission on Feb. 6. said, without going into detail and mentioning the use of the laser.
“We hope the Philippines seriously respects China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea and refrains from any action that may lead to the expansion of the dispute and the complication of the situation,” Wang said in response to a question to a daily briefing for the media. “China and the Philippines are maintaining communication through diplomatic channels on this matter.”
The Philippines has said that China’s blockade of a food and supply mission constitutes “blatant contempt and a clear violation of the sovereign rights of the Philippines”. (Philippine Coast Guard)
The Chinese coast guard also blocked Philippine vessels escorting a supply vessel from approaching Second Thomas Shoal in August, the Philippine coast guard said. At the time, one of two Chinese vessels joined by two Chinese civilian vessels removed the cover of its 70mm armament, the coast guard said, adding it would not be deterred by Chinese aggression in protecting Philippine sovereignty at sea. disputed.
Aside from China and the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei also have overlapping claims to the resource-rich and busy waterway, where most of the world’s trade and oil transits.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The United States has no claim to the disputed sea, but has deployed forces to patrol the waters to promote freedom of navigation and overflight, moves that have angered Beijing, which has warned Washington to stop meddling in what it calls a purely Asian dispute.
The US Navy and Marine Corps held joint exercises in the South China Sea over the weekend amid heightened tensions with Beijing over the downing of a suspected Chinese spy balloon. The AP reported that the United States has taken steps to rebuild its military might in the Philippines more than 30 years after the closure of its large bases in the country and strengthen an arc of military alliances in Asia.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
