The “blatant” violation of Chinese sovereignty in the South China Sea by a Chinese ship is accused of hitting a Philippine coast guard vessel with a green laser

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines on Monday accused a Chinese coast guard ship of hitting a Philippine coast guard vessel with a military-grade laser and temporarily blinding some of its crew in the disputed South China Sea, calling it a “blatant” violation of Manila’s sovereign rights.

The incident is said to have occurred on February 6 near Ayungin Shoal, also known as second THOMAS STEALS, in China’s Nansha Islands. China has a name for the reef.

“The Chinese maritime police vessel defended China’s sovereignty and maritime order in accordance with China’s domestic law and international law,” spokesperson Wang Wenbin said, without specifying what action the Chinese side took.

China claims “indisputable sovereignty” over almost all of the 1.3 million square mile South China Sea, as well as most of the islands within it. In full or part, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also claim the Spratlys, a archipelago consisting of 100 small islands and reefs.

The Philippine government ships were blocking the delivery of food and supplies to military personnel on board the BRP Sierra Madre in violation of Philippine sovereignty in the west Philippine Sea.

The Philippine ship was challenged by the Chinese ship during its mission to supply the Sierra Madre.

The Philippine statement says that the Chinese ship’s green laser light blinded her crew at the bridge.

Australia alleged that a navy plane from the People’s Liberation Army Navy lit up an Australian P-8A aircraft while it flew over the Arafura Sea between the island of Australia and the Northern Territory.

According to a CNN report in June of this year, the US military said there were at least 20 Chinese laser incidents in the eastern Pacific over the course of a year.

Less than a week after Manila announced plans to allow the US military to have more bases in the Philippines, there was an allegation of an incident on February 6.

On February 2, the Foreign Ministry of China said the move could endanger regional peace and stability.

The US State Department called on China to end its provocative actions and respect international law in the South China Sea last year.

Beijing was “interfering with Philippine sovereign rights within the Philippine exclusive economic zone near Second Thomas Shoal,” the June 17, 2022, statement said.

The Philippine coast guard said the Chinese ship maneuvered dangerously close to the Philippine vessel, blocking it from entering a submerged reef that had been occupied by Philippine forces.

In the latest incident, one of the two Chinese ships that were joined by two Chinese civilian vessels removed the cover of its 70mm armament, the coast guard said, adding it would not be deterred by China’s aggression in protecting Philippine sovereignty in the disputed sea.

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Aside from China and the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei also have overlapping claims in the resource-rich and busy waterway, where a bulk of the world’s commerce and oil transits.

The United States lays no claims 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 says is a purely Asian dispute.

The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps held joint exercises in the South China Sea over the weekend at a time of heightened tensions with Beijing over the shooting down of a suspected Chinese spy balloon. The U.S. has been taking steps to rebuild its military might in the Philippines more than 30 years after the closure of its large bases in the country and reinforcing an arc of military alliances in Asia.