A Philippine coast guard ship was targeted by a “military-grade laser” fired from a Chinese navy ship in the disputed South China Sea, temporarily blinding several Philippine crew members, Manila charged on Monday, Reuters and Agerpres reported.

The incident occurred on February 6 about 20 kilometers from Second Thomas Atoll, also known as Ayungin Atoll, in the Spratly archipelago, where Philippine soldiers are stationed, Manila said in a statement.

A Chinese coast guard ship twice fired a “military-grade” green laser at the Philippine ship, “temporarily blinding its crew (present) on deck,” the same source said.

Also, the Chinese ship carried out “dangerous maneuvers”, approaching approximately 140 meters from the Philippine one. A Philippine patrol ship was involved in a “rotation and resupply mission” of soldiers from an abandoned naval ship stranded on a sandbar to report Manila’s territorial claims.

“The deliberate blocking of Philippine government ships carrying food and supplies for our soldiers (…) is a flagrant disregard and flagrant violation of Manila’s sovereign rights” in that part of the West Philippine Sea, the Philippine Coast Guard said, noting that the term refers to the country’s western waters .

China says its military acted “measured”

Despite the incident, the mission was completed, said Armando Baylo, a spokesman for the Philippine Coast Guard. Private ships accompanied by the Coast Guard are usually hired to transport essential products.

Medel Aguilar, a spokesman for the Philippine military, called on Beijing to exercise restraint “so as not to commit provocations that would threaten lives.”

Chinese diplomatic representative Wang Wenbin said that the Philippine ship “entered without permission” into China’s sovereign waters. According to him, the employees of the Chinese coast guard acted “professionally and measuredly”.

Chinese navy and coast guard ships also blocked the path of Philippine government ships to the South China Sea in August, preventing them from reaching soldiers stationed on the atoll.

It is the latest maritime incident between Beijing and Manila, which have been at loggerheads for years over the sea, a strategic space rich in energy and fishing resources.

Disputes between Beijing and neighboring countries over the South China Sea

Almost all of this sea is claimed by Beijing, but claims are also made by the Philippines, as well as Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei.

China has ignored an international court ruling that its claims are legally groundless. In early February, Washington and Manila agreed on a new joint patrol in the South China Sea.

The two allies unveiled an agreement that allows US soldiers access to four additional bases in the Philippines to counter Beijing’s growing military power in the region.

In December 2022, Manila announced the establishment of direct communication between the foreign ministries of China and the Philippines to avoid “any miscalculations and miscommunications” in the South China Sea.

It is not known if this tool was used during the February 6 incident.