As per the various media reports, President Ferdinand Marcos of Philippine has summoned the ambassador of China on the use of a ‘Military-grade laser light by the Chinese coast guard against a Philippine ship in the disputed waters of the South China Sea, which resulted in the temporarily blinding of a crew member.
The incident happened when the Philippine coast guard was trying to assist a naval resupply mission in Ayungin Shoal in the South China Sea. It was reported that Chinese ship beamed a green laser light twice at the Philippian naval ship BRP Malapascua causing temporary blindness to one of the crew members.BRP Malapascua was on its way to deliver food and supplies for the personnel deployed on the BRP Sierra Madre during the attack by the Chinese coast guard on 6 Feb, 2023.
The Philippines along with Vietnam, Taiwan (Republic of China/ROC), Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia have a maritime dispute with China over the Paracel Islands, Spratly Islands, Scarborough Shoal, and disputes in the Gulf of Tonkin. To make things worse, China is now using Laser weapons against the naval ships of the small nations and that too in their own waters. Growing Chinese aggression towards its marine neighbour, the Philippines, has forced it towards the western block. Recently, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, signed a defence agreement on 9 Feb, 23 that will allow the Japanese troops to join training exercises with Philippine Navy to respond to natural disasters and humanitarian needs. However, many analysts have labeled this agreement as the beginning of the ‘Deepening of military ties between Manila and Tokyo. With the continuation of military aggression by the Chinese navy in the waters of small nations, more military pacts are expected to be discussed in the coming months to counter China with Japan and the United States.