THE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Monday, February 13, 2023, that a Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessel pointed a military-grade laser light to one of its vessels assisting in a resupply mission to troops in Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
In a statement, the PCG said the CCG ship directed a green laser light to BRP Malapascua as it reached 10 nautical miles from the Ayungin Shoal on February 6, 2023.
It said it caused “temporary blindness” to the PCG’s crew onboard.
The PCG said the CCG vessel also made dangerous maneuvers by approaching about 150 yards from the BRP Malapascua’s starboard quarter.
It said BRP Malapascua altered its course from Ayungin Shoal and headed toward Lawak Island to continue support to BRP Teresa Magbanua for a PCG mission to its sub-stations in the Kalayaan Island Group.
“The deliberate blocking of the 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,” the PCG said.
In a radio interview, PCG spokesperson Commodore Armando Balilo said they have already reported the incident to the Department of Foreign Affairs and the National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea for proper disposition.
It said a CCG vessel also prevented a PCG ship from coming closer to the Ayungin Shoal while providing security to a resupply mission in August 2022.
The Chinese Maritime Militia then reportedly ordered the deployment of utility boats to support the blockade and shadowing being conducted by the CCG against a PCG ship.
PCG commandant Admiral Artemio Abu said they will continue to exercise due diligence in protecting the country's territorial integrity against foreign aggression.
“The AFP can always rely on the PCG to support their resupply mission in Ayungin Shoal. Despite the dangerous maneuver of the much larger CCG ships and their aggressive actions at sea, the PCG ships will always be in the West Philippine Sea to sustain our presence and assert our sovereign rights,” he said. (SunStar Philippines)