China Navy lasers aimed at BFAR plane threatened crew safety - NMC official

 A Chinese missile boat of the People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLAN) that aimed lasers at a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) aircraft during a maritime patrol in the West Philippine Sea threatened the crew's safety, according to the National Maritime Council on Monday.

The incident occurred near Hasa-Hasa Shoal in the West Philippine Sea on Friday, September 27.

Two Chinese Navy missile boats were tailing BRP Datu Romapenet and BRP Datu Matanam Taradapit which were en route to Hasa-Hasa or Half-Moon Shoal, located some 60 nautical miles (111 kilometers) away from southern Palawan, to provide aid and other supplies to Filipino fishermen.

Accompanying the two Filipino ships was a BFAR plane with embedded media as part of its passengers.

Aside from the two warships, China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel 21555 was also spotted in the area. The said CCG ship was responsible for damaging the Philippine Coast Guard’s BRP Bagacay and BFAR’s BRP Sanday in separate incidents last month.

Suddenly. one of the missile boats pointed a laser at our airplane.

Our pilots, Charles Manalo and Alex Garay, issued a radio challenge to the Chinese warship.

It did not respond.

“Chinese Navy vessel, you are endangering our safety. Do not fire lasers on our aircraft!”, Manalo said over the radio.

Instead, the warship responded by letting off two more laser bursts at our plane before it changed its course.

A DANGEROUS ACT

After the incident, the spokesperson of the National Maritime Council said lasers can cause serious danger to pilots.

“Syempre laser yon. Pag natapat yun sa mata ng ating piloto, it will cause temporary blindness. It is dangerous in a way dahil safety… pag na-impair yung vision ng ating piloto,” Undersecretary Alexander Lopez said.

(Lasers when pointed directly at the eyes of a pilot can cause temporary blindness. It is dangerous in a way since the safety is (compromised) when the vision of the pilot is impaired.)

Lopez said they would collate the field reports as well as the reports of the embedded media which will be shared with the Department of Foreign Affairs for appropriate action.

“Ito ay magiging bahagi ng gagawin ng Department of Foreign Affairs, consolidate all their information para sa nararapat na protest ba, note verbale,” Lopez explained. 

MORE CHINESE SHIPS NEARBY

Beijing has not only maintained its presence in the West Philippine Sea, but the latest flyby mission of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) plane proved that Chinese ships were operating at what is close proximity to mainland Palawan.

On Thursday, September 26, the BFAR pilots also spotted China Coast Guard vessel 5202 and Chinese Navy warship with bow number 551 sailing eastward towards Palawan about 25 nautical miles (46 km) from the province's coastline, or just beyond 13 nautical miles from the Philippine territorial sea. For a better idea, The 25 nautical miles is from Calamba, Laguna to Calumpit, Bulacan.

 BFAR plane pilots never challenged the presence of the Chinese ships, presuming their innocent passage and freedom of navigation.

But the following morning of September 27, the same China Coast Guard vessel was spotted by BFAR plane pilots just 30 nautical miles off the coast of Palawan.

This time, two Chinese warships were also spotted near the China Coast Guard ship.

“China Coast Guard 5202 and Chinese warships 178 and 551 this is Cessna 28 Bravo RP1077, a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources aircraft of the Philippine government,” Manalo said in a radio challenge to the Chinese ships.

“You are inside the exclusive economic zone of the Republic of the Philippines at just 30 nautical miles of West Palawan mainland. What is your intention inside the Philippine exclusive economic zone?” Manalo asked.

There was no response from the Chinese side.

IROQUOIS REEF

A significant presence of Chinese vessels was also seen at Iroquois Reef, located at the southern tip of Recto Bank, an area in the northeast of Kalayaan Island Group or Spratlys believed to be rich in untapped oil and gas reserves.

During the BFAR plane’s flyby, we spotted 24 Chinese maritime militia vessels inside the reef.

Some of the militia vessels might be staying there for some time as seven of them were anchored side by side with each other.

At the southern portion of the reef, our pilots spotted a Chinese Navy warship with bow number 576.

In the midst of the overwhelming number of Chinese vessels inside Iroquois Reef, BRPs Datu Pagbuaya and Datu Bangkao managed to enter the reef.

The two BFAR ships brought diesel fuel and other provisions for Filipino fishermen present there.

There were four mother boats who availed of the BFAR “ayuda” or assistance, part of the Philippine's efforts to exert its presence in the disputed waters. —RF, GMA Integrated News