Last week, the incident took place close to the Spratly Islands. It is the most recent escalation in the conflict in the South China Sea between China and the Philippines.
In the disputed South China Sea, the Philippine Coast Guard claimed on Monday that the Chinese coast guard had fired a “military-grade laser light” at one of its ships.
The incident, according to Manila, temporarily rendered some of the ship’s crew members blind.
Officials reported that the incident happened on February 6 in the Spratly Islands, about 12 miles (20 kilometres) from Second Thomas Shoal.
Philippine troops are stationed on Second Thomas Shoal inside the BRP Sierra Madre, a derelict navy ship that has been grounded into the reef to assert Manila’s territorial claims.
“The deliberate blocking of Philippine government ships to deliver food and supplies to our military personnel on board the BRP Sierra Madre is a blatant disregard for, and a clear violation of, Philippine sovereign rights in this part of the West Philippine Sea,” said the Philippine Coast Guard, using the country’s official terminology for the stretch of waters close to its western coast.
What happened?
The Philippine Coast Guard said its patrol boat was supporting a “rotation and resupply mission” when a Chinese coast guard vessel shone a green laser at the bridge of the Philippine ship.
Officials also accused the Chinese ship of making “dangerous maneuvers” 150 meters away from the Philippine ship.
“The Philippine coast guard will continue to exercise due diligence in protecting the country’s territorial integrity against foreign aggression,” Philippines Admiral Artemio Abu said.
China has not yet commented on the claims.
It is not clear if the resupply mission was completed.