By Gabriela Baron
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) filed a diplomatic protest on Tuesday, Feb. 14, against the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) after one of its vessels used a military-grade laser on a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ship patrolling the Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.
The diplomatic protest, released to the Chinese Embassy in Manila, condemned the shadowing, harassment, dangerous maneuvers, directing of military-grade laser, and illegal radio challenges by CCG vessels against BRP Malapascua on Feb. 6.
According to PCG, the Chinese ship illuminated the green laser twice toward the BRP Malapascua, causing temporary blindness to one of its crew.
The DFA asserted that the actions of the CCG vessel against the PCG ship “constituted a threat to Philippine sovereignty and security” 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,” DFA Spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza said.
“These acts of aggression by China are disturbing and disappointing as it closely follows the state visit to China of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in early January during which he and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to manage maritime differences through diplomacy and dialogue, without resorting to force and intimidation,” Daza added.
BRP Malapascua was supporting a rotation and resupply mission of the Philippine Navy in Ayungin Shoal when a Chinese vessel directed a military-grade laser and undertook dangerous maneuvers by approaching at a close distance from the Philippine ship, risking a collision, the DFA added.
The Chinese vessel also issued illegal radio challenges that demanded the Philippine ship to leave the area.
READ MORE: China ship uses ‘military-grade’ laser on PH vessel
“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,” Daza said.
China’s claim to the West Philippine Sea, including areas under the Philippines’ EEZ, was declared illegal in July 2016 by the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration following a lawsuit filed by Manila in 2013. -ag
