Philippines protests to China over ships’ use of lasers, ‘aggressive activities’

MANILA, Feb 14 (Reuters) – The Philippines filed a diplomatic protest on Tuesday calling on Beijing to ensure its ships cease “aggressive activity” after Manila accused China’s coast guard of trying to intercept one of its vessels using lasers in the South China Sea.

On Feb. 6, a Chinese coast guard vessel targeted a Manila-based vessel supporting a resupply mission for troops in the disputed waterway with a “military-grade laser,” the Philippine Coast Guard said Monday. Blinds the crew on the bridge.

“These acts of aggression by China are disturbing and disappointing as they come on the heels of President Ferdinand R. Marcos’ state visit to China in early January, in which he and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to address maritime differences through diplomacy and dialogue,” the ministry said. spokeswoman Teresita Daza said in a statement Tuesday.

The Chinese vessel performed dangerous maneuvers in close proximity to the Philippine vessel, risking a collision that endangered the crew, and issued an “illegal radio challenge” asking the Philippine vessel to leave the area, the ministry said.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the behavior of the Chinese coast guard ship is a threat to the sovereignty and security of the Philippines, and the Philippines has the right to carry out lawful activities in its exclusive economic zone.

The Chinese embassy in Manila had no immediate comment, but China’s foreign ministry said on Monday that the Chinese coast guard had taken action in accordance with the law.

“We urge the Philippine side to avoid such behavior, and the behavior of Chinese personnel is professional and restrained,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said at a regular news conference.

The Philippine Coast Guard is supporting a naval mission to deliver food and supplies to troops on Second Thomas Shoal, 105 nautical miles (195 kilometers) from the Philippine province of Palawan.

Known locally as Ayungin, the shoal was home to a small Filipino military contingent that boarded a World War II ship that ran aground on the shoal on purpose in 1999, To strengthen Manila’s claim to sovereignty over the Spratly Islands.

China claims almost the entire South China Sea, including the area around the Spratly Islands.

Since last year, the Philippines has submitted 203 diplomatic notes to China, according to foreign ministry data.

Reporting by Neil Jerome Morales and Karen Lema Editing by Ed Davies

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