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Reuters | , Posted by Lingamgunta Nirmitha Rao
The Philippine Coast Guard said on Friday it was involved in a confrontation with a Chinese vessel making “dangerous maneuvers” in the South China Sea, the latest in a series of tense maritime interactions between the two countries.
The Philippine Coast Guard said a Chinese vessel “performed dangerous maneuvers” about 150 feet away from a Filipino vessel. (representative image)
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The incident comes as the coast guard conducts a week-long patrol of the strategic waterway and as Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang visited Manila over the weekend to meet with Philippine Foreign Minister and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
China claims sovereignty over 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 region.
The Coast Guard said that during its April 18-24 mission, it spotted more than 100 “alleged Chinese Maritime Militia vessels, a People’s Liberation Army Navy frigate and two Chinese coast guard vessel”.
It added that a Chinese vessel “performed a dangerous maneuver” about 150 feet away from a Philippine vessel. It added that the other two ships displayed “aggressive tactics” that posed a “significant threat to the safety and security of the Philippine vessel and its crew.”
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The Chinese embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In February, the Philippine Coast Guard said a Chinese counterpart pointed a “military-grade laser” at one of the ships supporting a resupply mission to troops in the disputed waterway, temporarily blinding the crew on the bridge.
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