Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 15) — Despite the recent laser incident between Chinese and Philippine coast guards, Beijing described the situation in the contested Ayungin Shoal as generally “calm,” adding that the foreign ministries of both nations have begun discussion on the matter.
This was according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry after the Philippines filed a fresh diplomatic protest against China over the latter’s use of military-grade laser against a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ship last week.
“Earlier we shared the facts and actual circumstances of the incident as well as China’s principled position. We would like to stress again that what the China Coast Guard did was professional and restrained,” Wang Wenbin, spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, told reporters in a briefing on Tueday.
“At present, the relevant waters are calm overall,” he added.
The Chinese Coast Guard’s (CCG) use of laser resulted in the temporary blindness of PCG crew members. However, China defended its action as it accused the Philippines of intruding into its waters.
Beijing insisted that Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) is part of its Nansha Islands, refusing to acknowledge the 2016 arbitral ruling in The Hague, which concluded that China has no legal basis to claim historic rights to the bulk of the South China Sea.
During the press conference, Wang reiterated China’s position that the landmark ruling is “illegal, null and void.”
He added that the arbitration case was “pure political drama\” orchestrated by the US, which has backed the Philippines amid the laser incident.
In its statement of support, the US reaffirmed that an armed attack on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft in the WPS would invoke its commitments under its Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) with Manila.
China criticized this, saying Washington brings up the MDT \”at every turn in an attempt to intimidate China.\”
\”But it will not weaken our resolve and will to safeguard China’s legitimate and lawful rights and interests,” Wang said.
Retired Justice Antonio Carpio earlier said that although China’s use of laser weapons only resulted in temporary blindness, such an action constitutes an “armed attack” and that the Philippines can invoke its MDT with the United States.
“However, before the [Philippines] invokes the MDT, the Philippines should first coordinate with the US a joint statement that future use by Chinese coast guard vessels of laser weapons on [Philippine] public vessels or aircraft will trigger the operation of the MDT,” Carpio said.
Besides the US, other countries including Japan, Australia, Canada and Germany have expressed concern over China’s action in Ayungin Shoal.
