Chinese coast guard uses military-grade laser to 'deliberately' blind patrol boat

dailystar.co.uk:

Chinese Coast Guard vessel aimed a powerful military-grade laser at a Filipino patrol boat, temporarily blinding some of its crew the government of The Philippines has said.The Chinese ship is also reported to have manoeuvred dangerously close to the Philippines patrol vessel BRP Malapascua, coming within 450ft in a bid to block it from approaching Second Thomas Shoal, a reef in a disputed area of the South China Sea.The confrontation, which occurred on February 6, was a "blatant" violation of Manila's sovereign rights, Filipino government sources said.. READ MORE: WW3 fears as US general tells of 'gut feeling' about war with China in 2025 China claims the South China Sea as its exclusive territorial waters, provoking clashes with governments across the region.

The Philippines filed nearly 200 diplomatic protests against China's aggressive actions in the disputed waters in 2022 alone.Despite friendly overtures to Beijing by former Filipino president Rodrigo Duterte and his successor, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, who met Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing in January, tensions have persisted, drawing in closer military alliance between the Philippines and the US.Although the Chinese coast guard had tried to block Philippines coast guard ships in the disputed waters before, this was the first time it has used lasers and caused physical suffering among Filipino personnel, Philippines coast guard spokesman Commodore Armand Balilo said.There was no immediate comment from the Chinese Embassy in Manila."The Chinese ship illuminated the green laser light twice toward the BRP Malapascua, causing temporary blindness to her crew at the bridge," the Philippines statement said.The Filipino vessel was forced to move away from the area, where.