China: China has been disrupting the peace and stability in the region of the West Philippines Sea. The Philippines have asked China to stop its harassment, reported Philippine Daily Inquirer.
According to the reports, the spokesperson of the Foreign Affairs Ministry of the Philippines, Teresita Daza, made a plea after an incident of harassment came in daylight happened to a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) by the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) using a “Military-Grade” laser, by which the Filipino coast guards got blinded temporarily.
In addition, Daza said in a Laging Handa public briefing, “We have no concrete basis to doubt the complaint of our Philippine Coast Guard after the incident. But from the report, to shadow, to harass, to put in danger not only the vessel, but then the entire crew, and more majorly to target actually and point a military-grade laser not just once, but twice actually is not restrained in all accounts,”
Foreign Minister spokesperson Daza said, “We’re calling on China to prevent and restrain from these incidents as it is not only damaging but also dangerous. It is also disturbing in terms of peace and stability in the region,”
Furthermore, China’s Coast Guard reported using laser devices against the crew of a Philippine Coast Guard ship in the South China Sea on February 6, Philippine Daily Inquirer noted.
However, China claimed the opposite stand and stated that they had maintained their actions in a “restrained and professional” manner. Instead, China put allegations the Philippines of trespassing into its territorial regions.
Moreover, Beijing also conveyed that it did not direct the laser to the crew. Still, it used it “to measure and understand the actual distance and speed of the Philippine vessel along with signal directions to ensure safe navigation.”
Beijing officials added that the laser “does not damage anything or any person present on the vessel.” The Philippines authorities nevertheless lodged a diplomatic protest against the occasion.
Earlier, United States State Department representative Ned Price noted that they are in favour of Philippine allies in upholding the rules-based international maritime order and affirmed an armed attack on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft, including those of the Coast Guard in the South China Sea, would invoke America’s mutual defence standings under Article 4th of the Defence Treaty of 1951, as per the information released by the State Department of US.
In the end, the Philippines won its case over China before the United Nations committee-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration, invalidating Beijing’s nine-dash line asserts, which covers almost the entire South China Sea region, including the West Philippine Sea and the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, reported Philippine Daily Inquirer. (MILAP NEWS NETWORK)