China has denied that its coast guard pointed lasers at the crew of the BRP Malapascua while the latter was on a resupply mission on February 6 in waters off the Ayungin Shoal.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin at his regular press conference on Wednesday said the Philippines' allegations did "not reflect the truth."
"During that process, the China Coast Guard ship used hand-held laser speed detector and hand-held greenlight pointer to measure the distance and speed of the Philippine vessel and signal directions to ensure navigation safety," Wang said. In a protest lodged by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Manila called out China’s Coast Guard for its “latest aggressive activities", heightening tensions anew between the two Asian neighbors locked in yearslong territorial disputes in the resource-rich waters.
Wang on Wednesday said the Chinese ambassador to the Philippines "has clarified the facts with Philippine leaders."
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