Chinese warships tail, point laser at BFAR vessels, plane in WPS

Two Chinese warships tailed two vessels of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), and pointed lasers at a plane of the same agency in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) on Monday.

The incident happened near Hasa-Hasa Shoal [Half Moon Shoal] during a maritime patrol of the BFAR in the WPS, according to a report of GMA Integrated News’ Ian Cruz on Super Radyo dzBB.

Two missile boats of the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) of China tailed BFAR’s BRP Datu Matanam Taradapit and BRP Datu Romapenet.

One of the Chinese warships also pointed a laser at the BFAR plane. In response, BFAR plane pilots issued a radio challenge to the Chinese missile boat but it did not answer.

Aside from this, China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel 21555 was also spotted in the area. The CCG ship was the one that damaged Philippine Coast Guard’s BRP Bagacay and BFAR’s BRP Sanday in previous incidents.

Tensions continue amid China's massive claim in the South China Sea (SCS), including portions the Philippines refers to as the West Philippine Sea.

The SCS is a conduit for more than $3 trillion in annual ship commerce. Aside from the Philippines, China has overlapping claims in the area with Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei.

In 2016, an international arbitration tribunal in Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's claims in the South China Sea, saying that it had "no legal basis."

China has not recognized the decision. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News