A Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) ship aimed a military-grade laser at a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel while patrolling through the Ayungin Shoal on Monday, February 6, potentially risking the lives of Filipino crew members, the agency reported.
The action was taken into pictures which was released by PCG Monday, February 13.
The PCG vessel was supporting a resupply mission on the Philippine Navy in Ayungin Shoal in the disputed waters of the West Philippine Sea (WPS) when the incident happened last week.
PCG said that the Chinese vessel was captured in the images they released today. In the images, the said CCG vessel shone a grene laser light, illuminating the PCG ship and potentially endangering lives.
“As BRP MALAPASCUA reached a 10nm distance from Ayungin Shoal, the CCG vessel was monitored approximately 4nm of the ship’s dead ahead maneuvering from the portside heading starboard side. The Chinese ship illuminated the green laser light twice toward the BRP MALAPASCUA, causing temporary blindness to her crew at the bridge. The Chinese vessel also made dangerous maneuvers by approaching about 150 yards from the vessel’s starboard quarter,” PCG wrote.
PCG condemned the act and said that it’s a risk to the safety of their crew members, according to PCG commandant Admiral Artemio Abu.
“The PCG condemns any actions that harm and jeopardise the safety of everyone, regardless of nationality,” he said.
Military-grade laser pointers are hand-held portable devices generally used for marking targets and have become a very intrinsic part of military training and engagement atmospheres.
Ayungin, or Second Thomas Shoal, is a submerged reef 194km off Palawan province, and is considered to be within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, where the Philippine Navy maintains its presence through BRP Sierra Madre.