Chinese ships throws ‘military grade’ laser temporarily gliding Philippine Coast Guard crew

Last year the Australians had blamed the Chinese navy had aimed its laser at the Royal Air Force jets

New Delhi, Feb 14: The Philippines Coast Guard (PCG) has accused a China Coast Guard ship of pointing a 'military grade' laser at some of its crew as a result of which some of them were blinded temporarily.

A CNN report said that the incident took place in the contested waters of South China last week.

The PCG vessel was supporting a rotation and resupply mission of the Philippine Navy in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea in the Spartly Islands chain, known in China as the Nansha island, the report said. The Chinese ship also made dangerous manoeuvres in approaching within 150 yards of the Philippines vessel, statement by the PCG posted on its official Facebook page said.

The China Coast Guard (CCG) ship with bow no. 5206 illuminated a green light twice towards the BRP Malapascua causing temporary blindness to crew members on duty at the bridge at past 6 pm. The report said that this took pace as the ship reached 19.5 kilometres from the Shoal, the PCG also said.

PCG commandant Adm. Artemis Abu said that, "the PCG condemns any actions that harm and jeopardise the safety of everyone regardless of nationality.

The Chinese ship crossed the bow of the PCG ship at a distance of 7.4 kilometres as if to warn BRP Malapascua to stop or alter its course.

China's foreign ministry however said on Monday that the Philippine vessel 'trespassed' into the waters of Renai Reef without permission of the Chinese side.

"The Chinese maritime police vessel defended China's sovereignty and maritime order in accordance with China's domestic law and international law," Chinese spokesperson Wang Wenbin said without specifying what action the Chinese side took.

China claims 'indisputable sovereignty' over almost all of the 1.3 million square miles of the South China Seas, as well as most of the islands within it. This includes the Spartlys, an archipelago consisting 100 small islands and reefs.

The Philippines calls the area as the West Philippine Sea and in 1999 intentionally grounded a navy transport ship, the BRP Sierra Madre on the Second Thomas Shoal, which is manned by Filipino marines.

Last year the Australian government had said that a Chinese warship aimed its laser at a Royal Australian Air Force jet 105 kilometres from Australia's northern coast. China however denied this.