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US ship near the Philippines (symbolic image): Joint patrols are to be continued in the future
Photo: Jason Tarleton/ dpa
According to information from Manila, a Chinese ship blinded the crew of a Philippine patrol boat in the South China Sea with a "military laser light".
The incident happened on Feb. 6 nearly 20 kilometers from a Philippine Navy base in the Spratly Islands, the Philippine Coast Guard said.
In addition, the Chinese ship made “dangerous maneuvers” just 140 meters from the Philippine boat.
The incident, reported from Manila, would be the latest in a series of maritime incidents between the Philippines and China, which claims sovereignty over almost all of the South China Sea.
Beijing is ignoring an international court ruling that its claims have no legal basis.
Just a few days ago, the United States and the Philippines announced that they would resume joint patrols in the South China Sea.
Joint patrols were suspended under the predecessor of current Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Rodrigo Duterte.
China claims practically the entire South China Sea for itself.
However, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam also lay claim to parts of the sea area, which is of enormous strategic and economic importance for the riparian states.
muk/AFP