DFA, US protest China’s ‘provocative’ laser-pointing vs. PCG ship

FILE: The Philippine Coast Guard records the military-grade laser light directed by a China Coast Guard vessel at the BRP Malapascua while at Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea on Feb. 6, 2023. The Philippine vessel was supporting a rotation and resupply mission of the Philippine Navy in Ayungin Shoal at the time. (Photo: Philippine Coast Guard/Facebook)

MANILA – The Philippine government on Tuesday fired off a diplomatic protest against China over its latest aggressive activities near Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, including the “dangerous maneuvers” and use of military-grade laser on a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel.

In a statement, Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Ma. Teresita Daza, said the “acts of aggression” are both “disturbing and disappointing” as it closely follows the bilateral summit between President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Chinese President Xi Jinping in January.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it filed the note verbale before the Chinese Embassy in Manila on Tuesday.

The diplomatic note “condemned the shadowing, harassment, dangerous maneuvers, directing of military-grade laser, and illegal radio challenges” by Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessel 5205 against the PCG vessel, BRP Malapascua, on Feb. 6.

The DFA asserted that the CCG’s actions constituted a threat to Philippine sovereignty and security as a state, and are infringements of its sovereign rights and jurisdiction over its exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

“The Philippines has the prerogative to conduct legitimate activities within its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. China does not have law enforcement rights or powers in and around Ayungin Shoal or any part of the Philippine EEZ,” said Daza.

“We call on China to comply with its obligations under international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS and the 2016 Award in the South China Sea Arbitration and direct its vessels to cease and desist from its aggressive activities against Philippine vessels,” she added.

In another statement, Ned Price, US State Department spokesperson, said the “provocative and unsafe” use of military-grade laser light interfered with the Philippines’ lawful operations in and around Ayungin Shoal.

“The United States stands with our Philippine allies in the face of the People’s Republic of China Coast Guard’s reported use of laser devices against the crew of a Philippine Coast Guard ship on February 6 in the South China Sea,” he said.

He added that China’s “dangerous operational behavior directly threatens regional peace and stability, infringes upon freedom of navigation in the South China Sea as guaranteed under international law, and undermines the rules-based international order.”

Wang Wenbin, China’s Foreign Affairs spokesperson, defended the incident on Sunday as their Coast Guard’s response to Manila’s “intrusion” into the waters off the Ayungin Shoal without Chinese permission.

READ: China Coast Guard points laser light at PCG ship off Ayungin

The PCG report on Monday said BRP Malapascua (MRRV-4403) was supporting a rotation and resupply mission of the Philippine Navy in Ayungin Shoal at the time of the incident.

“As BRP Malapascua reached a 10nm (nautical mile) 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,” the PCG said.

The Ayungin Shoal or Second Thomas Shoal is located about 105 nautical miles off Palawan — well within the Philippines 200-nautical mile EEZ.

The DFA has already filed 203 notes verbales against China since 2022, eight of which were lodged this year.

Admiral Artemio Abu, PCG commandant, said they will “continue to exercise due diligence in protecting the country’s territorial integrity against foreign aggression.”

“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,” Abu said in a statement.