“The China coast guard has also communicated with the Philippine Coast Guard on this instance,” Huang said.
“I think that first of all both sides should exercise restraint and refrain from taking any unilateral and provocative action. At the end of the day, that water is a disputed area,” he added.
Hours after the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines accused China of undermining security and stability in the West Philippine Sea following the laser-pointing incident, Huang held a press conference.
Chinese coast guard lasers not military grade – Huang
According to a spokeswoman for the Chinese foreign ministry, China has authority over the waters near the Ayungin Shoal, where the BRP Malapascua was sailing on its way to reinforce nearby Filipino Marines.
He continued by saying that the lasers were intended to direct the Filipino vessel and ensure safe sailing.
According to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and upheld in 2016 by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, the Ayungin Shoal area is clearly within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone.
The laser-pointing incident caused temporary blindness among PCG members.
Huang also displayed images of lasers that looked like those used by the Chinese coast guard and said that they weren’t military-grade lasers meant to harm people on the ground.
“I was very saddened to hear that but as I said those are not military grade lasers which do not inflict damage to any either personnel or any goods,” he said.
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