Philippines accuses China of using ‘military-grade’ laser against its vessels in South China Sea

• The glare from the laser temporarily blinded the crew.
• The ship was on its way to a stranded navy ship.
• China has used water cannons and sirens in the past to maintain its claim to much of the South China Sea.

The Philippines has accused China of using a “military grade” laser light to thwart a resupply mission to a disputed South China Sea reef.

The glare from the laser temporarily blinded the crew of the Filipino coast guard boat, causing it to retreat.

The ship was on its way to a stranded navy ship that Manila has employed for years to claim the Second Thomas Shoal.

China has used water cannons and sirens in the past to maintain its claim to much of the South China Sea.

The incident, on 6 February, was only reported publicly on Monday. It was a “clear violation of Philippine sovereign rights” in waters that Manila refers to as the West Philippine Sea, the Filipino coastguard said in a statement.

Authorities stated the Chinese ship conducted “dangerous maneuvers

” roughly 150 yards (137m) from the starboard side of the Filipino ship, in addition to flashing laser light twice.

The BBC was unable to reach a representative for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Beijing did not respond immediately.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration of the United Nations concluded in 2016 that Beijing’s broad claims in the South China Sea have no historical validity.

Tensions over the shoal, known as Ayungin in the Philippines, were one of the catalysts for the case, that the Philippines brought.

However, the tribunal lacks the authority to impose its decision, and China has continued to construct massive structures over reefs in the waters, which are also disputed in part by Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan.

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte similarly refused to acknowledge the arbitration verdict, instead attempting to rebuild diplomatic and economic ties between Manila and Beijing as he shifted the country away from its long-standing ally, the United States.

Mr. Marcos, on the other hand, flipped the script. His government agreed earlier this month to provide the US access to four new military bases.

According to the Philippine Daily Inquirer, a Chinese navy warship flashed blue lights and blinkers at a Philippine coastguard tugboat in June of last year.

Six months earlier, Australia accused China of beaming a military-grade laser at one of its jets off the coast of northern Australia.

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