Hong Kong
CNN
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The Philippine Coast Guard last week accused a Chinese Coast Guard ship aboard a vessel in disputed waters in southern China of aiming a “military-grade” laser at some of its crew members, temporarily blinding them.
The Chinese vessel also “performed a dangerous maneuver” in approaching within 150 yards (137 meters) of the Philippine vessel, the Philippine Coast Guard claimed in a statement posted on its official Facebook page. Accompanied by a photo purporting to show the green beam of the laser.
The incident allegedly occurred on February 6 near Ayungin Shoal, also known as Second Thomas Shoal, in the Spratly Islands, known in China as the Spratly Islands. China calls this shallow water the Renai Reef.
China’s foreign ministry said on Monday that the Philippine vessel “entered the waters of Ren’ai Jiao without permission from the Chinese side.”
“The Chinese coast guard ship defended China’s sovereignty and maritime order in accordance with China’s domestic and international law,” spokesman Wang Wenbin said, although it was unclear what actions the Chinese side took. I didn’t.
China claims “indisputable sovereignty” over nearly all of the 1.3 million square miles of the South China Sea and most of the islands within. This includes the Spratly Islands, an archipelago of 100 small islands and coral reefs, claimed in whole or in part by the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.
The Philippines calls this area the West Philippine Sea and in 1999 deliberately grounded the naval transport BRP Sierra Madre on the Second Thomas Shoal. To strengthen Manila’s claim to the region.
In the February 6 incident, the Philippine vessel BRP Malapascua was challenged by a Chinese vessel while on a mission to resupply the Sierra Madre, the Philippine release claims.
“The Chinese vessel fired two green laser beams towards BRP Malapascua, temporarily blinding the crew on the bridge. operation,” the statement said.
“The willful obstruction of Philippine government vessels delivering food and supplies to Philippine military personnel aboard the BRP Sierra Madre is a blatant disregard for Philippine sovereign rights in this region of the Western Philippine Sea, It’s clearly infringing.”
There have been previous allegations that Chinese ships are targeting the Laser as a hostile vessel.
In February 2022, Australia saw a PLA Navy warship fly over the Arafura Sea, the waters between Australia’s Northern Territory and the South Pacific, when an Australian reconnaissance and anti-submarine fighter, an Australian P -8A claimed to have “lighted” the aircraft. New Guinea to the north.
China said at the time that Australia’s allegations were “untrue”.
“The normal navigation of Chinese ships on the high seas is in compliance with relevant international laws and practices and is completely legal and lawful,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang said last year.
In May 2019, an Australian pilot said he was targeted by a commercial laser while on a mission in the South China Sea.
Also in a June 2018 report, US military officials told CNN that there were at least 20 suspected Chinese laser incidents in the East Pacific between September 2017 and June 2018.
The alleged Feb. 6 incident comes days after Manila, which has a mutual defense treaty with Washington, announced plans to allow US troops access to more bases in the Philippines.
China’s foreign ministry spokesman Mao Ning said on February 2 that the move “increases regional tensions and endangers regional peace and stability.”
Although the United States does not claim territorial rights in the South China Sea, in accordance with international law and freedom of the high seas, US warships regularly operate in the waterways.
Last year, a US State Department statement specifically referred to No. 2 Thomas Shoal in calling on China to “cease its provocative actions and respect international law in the South China Sea.”
A statement dated June 17, 2022 stated that Beijing was “obstructing Philippine sovereignty within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone near Second Thomas Shoal.”
A Chinese vessel also intercepted a Philippine resupply mission to Sierra Madre last August, according to a Philippine Coast Guard statement on Monday.
The Philippine Coast Guard commander said his mission would not be hindered by China’s actions in what it claims are Philippine waters.
“Despite the dangerous maneuvers and aggressive actions at sea of much larger (Chinese) vessels, (Philippine Coast Guard) vessels are always in the Western Philippine Sea to maintain our presence and We claim our sovereignty,” Admiral Altermio M. Abu said.
