Philippines files protest over Chinese coastguard’s use of laser against its boat
- Manila says Chinese coastguard tried to block resupply of Filipino troops stationed at Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands on February 6
- Incident near the shoal was an ‘intrusion without permission’ by the Philippine side, Chinese foreign ministry says
The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said the protest was filed to the Chinese embassy in Manila. It described the Chinese coastguard’s action as a “threat to Philippine sovereignty and security as a state”.
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Chinese military ship accused of shining laser light at Philippine coastguard vessel
“These acts of aggression by China are disturbing and disappointing as it closely follows the state visit to China of [Philippine] President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr in early January during which he and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to manage maritime differences through diplomacy and dialogue,” foreign affairs spokeswoman Teresita Daza said in a statement.
The Philippine protest came after Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Monday that the incident on February 6 near the Second Thomas Shoal was an “intrusion without permission” by the Philippine coastguard.
The Chinese vessel had been “safeguarding China’s sovereignty and the maritime order”, based on domestic and international law. “The operations on site were professional and with restraint,” he said.
The laser incident is the most recent sign of growing China-US rivalry in the region, with the US State Department on Tuesday backing Manila and describing China’s action as “provocative and unsafe”.