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Japan, Australia, Canada express serious concern over China Coast Guard laser incident

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ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA (UPDATED) — Japan, Australia, and Canada have expressed serious concern on a Chinese Coast Guard ship aiming a military-grade laser light at a Philippine Coast Guard vessel.</p><p>The PCG earlier bared that a Chinese vessel with bow number 5205 was seen approximately 4 nautical miles away from the Philippines&#x27; BRP Malapascua, which was going to the Ayungin Shoal in the South China Sea.</p><p>The Chinese ship shone a green laser light twice toward the BRP Malapascua, causing temporary blindness to its crew. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/13/23/chinese-ship-blinds-ph-navy-with-military-grade-laser">Chinese ship blinds PH Navy with military-grade laser: Coast Guard</a></li></ul><p>Japan&#x27;s Ambassador to the Philippines Koshikawa Kazuhiko said the Chinese ship&#x27;s action was &quot;dangerous behavior&quot;.</p><p>&quot;All states should respect maritime order based on international law, in particular UNCLOS, and recall that 2016 Arbitral Award is final and legally binding. We firmly oppose any action that increase tensions,&quot; he said in a tweet.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">We express serious concerns about dangerous behavior against PH vessels. All states should respect maritime order based on international law, in particular UNCLOS, and recall that 2016 Arbitral Award is final and legally binding. We firmly oppose any action that increase tensions</p>— Ambassador of Japan in the Philippines (@AmbJPNinPH) <a href="https://twitter.com/AmbJPNinPH/status/1625464188251561985?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2023</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><p>Australian Ambassador to the Philippines HK Yu, meanwhile, said the Chinese vessel&#x27;s move was &quot;unsafe and intimidatory directed against the Philippines.&quot;</p><p>&quot;We continue to call for peace, stability and respect for international law in the South China Sea, a vital international waterway,&quot; she said in a tweet.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Australia shares concerns about unsafe and intimidatory actions directed against the Philippines. We continue to call for peace, stability and respect for international law in the South China Sea, a vital international waterway. <a href="https://t.co/IdmQ51XoDy">https://t.co/IdmQ51XoDy</a></p>— HK Yu PSM (@AusAmbPH) <a href="https://twitter.com/AusAmbPH/status/1625427006648356864?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2023</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><p>On Wednesday, Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines David Hartman said that China&#x27;s actions were &quot;contrary to the maintenance of regional peace and stability, and the rules-based international order.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Canada underscores its firm and unwavering support for the Philippines in the face of coercive actions of the People’s Republic of China in the South China Sea. As a Party to UNCLOS, the PRC must comply with its obligations, including notably the 2016 SCS Arbitration Decision,&quot; Hartman tweeted.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Canada underscores its firm &amp; unwavering support for the Philippines in the face of coercive actions of the People’s Republic of China in the South China Sea. As a Party to UNCLOS, the PRC must comply with its obligations, including notably the 2016 SCS Arbitration Decision.(1/2) <a href="https://t.co/oyL5B6aeBm">pic.twitter.com/oyL5B6aeBm</a></p>— Canada in the Philippines (@CanEmbPH) <a href="https://twitter.com/CanEmbPH/status/1625658428113752064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2023</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><p>The United States earlier renewed its warning against China over the laser incident, saying it stands with Manila and that any armed attack against Philippine military vessels or aircraft &quot;would invoke US mutual defense commitments&quot;.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/14/23/us-criticizes-chinas-laser-lights-use-against-philippine-coast-guard-ship">US criticizes China&#x27;s laser lights use against Philippine Coast Guard ship</a></li></ul><p>President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has summoned China&#x27;s top envoy to Manila over the incident.</p><p>The Philippines and China have been disputing over the South China Sea for over a decade, with Beijing claiming sovereignty over almost the entire waters through which trillions of dollars in trade pass annually. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/19/23/marcos-jr-says-south-china-sea-keeps-him-up-at-night">Marcos Jr. says South China Sea &#x27;keeps him up at night&#x27;</a></li></ul><p>Despite a 2016 ruling from a UN-backed tribunal that favored Manila and ruled China&#x27;s claims as illegitimate, the Asian giant has been aggressive in its military activities in the South China Sea.</p><p>The Philippines has repeatedly accused Chinese coast guard and maritime militias of harassing and attacking fishing boats and other vessels in the disputed waters. - With a report from Agence France-Presse</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xZDgRGXWqeI?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>

Japan, Australia, and Canada have expressed serious concern on a Chinese Coast Guard ship aiming a military-grade laser at a Philippine vessel.