INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is standing by the account of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) after China denied that it harassed the Filipino crew using a “military-grade” laser.
“As far as the DFA is concerned, we have no reason to doubt the Philippine Coast Guard’s account of the incident,” the agency’s spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza told INQUIRER.net in a message on Thursday.
The PCG earlier reported that a Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) ship directed a “military-grade” laser to their vessel as they supported a Philippine Navy rotation and resupply mission in Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea on February 6.
The PCG crew members suffered temporary blindness.
Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Wang Wenbin then accused the Philippines of intruding into their territory, the Ren’ai Reef, prompting the CCG to make such actions.
Wang added that the CCG “did not direct lasers” to the crew. The lasers, he said, were “to measure the distance and speed of the Philippine vessel and signal directions to ensure navigation safety.”
The Philippines lodged a diplomatic protest on the incident.