Global Courant 2023-04-28 10:12:20
MANILA — The Philippine Coast Guard said Friday it was involved in a confrontation with Chinese vessels making “dangerous maneuvers” in the South China Sea, the latest in a series of tense maritime interactions between the two countries.
The incident occurred as the Coast Guard patrolled the strategic waterway for a week and when Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang visited Manila over the weekend to visit his Philippine counterpart and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
China claims most of the South China Sea, through which an estimated $3 trillion worth of goods pass each year.
The Philippines has repeatedly called on Beijing to stop its “aggressive activities” in the area.
The Coast Guard said during its mission from April 18 to April 24, it had identified more than 100 “alleged Chinese maritime militia vessels, a People’s Liberation Army Navy corvette class, and two Chinese Coast Guard vessels” within the 322-km exclusive economic zone of the Philippines.
It added that a Chinese ship was “performing dangerous maneuvers” at a distance of about 46 meters from a Philippine ship.
Two other ships displayed “aggressive tactics” and posed a “significant threat to the safety and security of the Philippine ship and its crew,” it added.
The Chinese embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In February, the Philippine Coast Guard said a Chinese counterpart ship had aimed a “military laser” at one of its ships supporting a resupply mission to troops in the disputed waterway, temporarily blinding the crew on the bridge. REUTERS
