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US Warns It Will Defend Philippines After China Deploys Laser At Sea in a New Significant Incident Involving the Philippine and Chinese Coast Guards
Nation and State ^ | 02/14/2023 | Tyler Durden

Posted on 02/14/2023 9:15:22 PM PST by SeekAndFind

The Biden administration has denounced the actions of China's military after a new significant incident involving the Philippine and Chinese Coast Guards. It happened on Feb.6, but has only this week been revealed.

State Department spokesman Ned Price in a Tuesday briefing blasted China’s "provocative and unsafe" interference aimed at disrupting Philippine vessels' "lawful operations" in the South China Sea. "More broadly, the PRC’s dangerous operational behavior directly threatens regional peace and stability, infringes upon freedom of navigation in the South China Sea as guaranteed under international law, and undermines the rules-based international order," Price said.

Specifically, the allegation is that a Chinese Coast Guard ship used a laser device to "temporarily blind" the crew of the rival Philippine ship, according to the US, citing its Philippine ally.


Philippine Coast Guard, Facebook

The US said it happened in an area where Beijing has "no lawful maritime claims" as it occurred as the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) sailed around Second Thomas Shoal.

That's when, according to an official PCG statement

The Chinese ship illuminated the green laser light twice toward the BRP MALAPASCUA, causing temporary blindness to her crew at the bridge. The Chinese vessel also made dangerous maneuvers by approaching about 150 yards from the vessel's starboard quarter.

The PCG further called it "a blatant disregard for, and a clear violation of, Philippine sovereign rights."

The State Dept.'s Price agreed, saying "The United States stands with our Philippine allies in upholding the rules-based international maritime order and reaffirms an armed attack on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft, including those of the Coast Guard in the South China Sea, would invoke U.S. mutual defense commitments," while referencing a 1951 mutual defense treaty.

It's certainly not the first time the US made such a pledge; however, clearly Beijing is challenging the US stance with such brazen provocations in the South China Sea, especially when disputed territory is at play.

Beijing has acknowledged the incident, but blamed the Philippine Coast Guard for entering claimed Chinese waters...

Chinese MOFA on laser pointing incident:

The Ren’ai Reef is part of China’s Nansha Islands. On February 6, a Philippine Coast Guard vessel intruded into the waters off the Ren’ai Reef without Chinese permission. https://t.co/wGAOrrNVeq — Frances Mangosing 🇵🇭 (@FMangosingINQ) February 13, 2023

Last summer Secretary of State Antony Blinken pledged and spelled out: "We also reaffirm that an armed attack on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft in the South China Sea would invoke US mutual defense commitments under Article IV of the 1951 US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty."


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: china; defense; philippines
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1 posted on 02/14/2023 9:15:22 PM PST by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

Testing and probing, probing and testing.


2 posted on 02/14/2023 9:23:57 PM PST by lightman (I am a binary Trinitarian. Deal with it!)
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To: SeekAndFind

I am skeptical that the United States has the military capability to wage much of any kind of War in the South China Sea.

We have seriously run down our munitions shipping them off to Ukraine and Biden is well on the way to draining the Strategic petroleum Reserve into worthlessness.

Both of which, I believe, are being done (in part at least) to damage our military readiness. Possibly at the bidding of this Chinese Masters.


3 posted on 02/14/2023 9:28:18 PM PST by ChildOfThe60s ( If you can remember the 60s.....you weren't really there..)
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To: SeekAndFind

If it’s mounted on a shark, that could spell big trouble.


4 posted on 02/14/2023 9:32:24 PM PST by bakeneko
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To: ChildOfThe60s

Defend every other countries boarders…..

Except our own….
Makes perfect sense


5 posted on 02/14/2023 9:36:54 PM PST by SPDSHDW (Ya’ll knew he was installed via fraud, and chose to do nothing. Enjoy the roller coaster ride.)
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To: ChildOfThe60s

Almost none of the material shipped to Ukraine is relevant to a sea and air war in East Asia.

If you wish to dispute this, it would help if you got specific on which weapons you are concerned about.


6 posted on 02/14/2023 9:51:09 PM PST by buwaya (Strategic imperatives )
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To: SeekAndFind

Waiting for someone to blame Putin.


7 posted on 02/15/2023 1:42:01 AM PST by Jeff Chandler (THE ISSUE IS NEVER THE ISSUE. THE REVOLUTION IS THE ISSUE.)
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To: SeekAndFind

Too bad week-kneed Americans gave up the MASSIVE Subic Bay military base. It was so MASSIVE, the local economy took a significant hit when it closed. If an aircraft carrier group is an example of force projection, the force projection of Subic Bay would have been a great counter to the Chicoms.


8 posted on 02/15/2023 2:42:04 AM PST by Ronaldus Magnus III (Do, or do not, there is no try)
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To: SeekAndFind

Aren’t there middle systems that can easily target the laser’s point of emission ?


9 posted on 02/15/2023 2:42:46 AM PST by daku
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To: SeekAndFind

“I shall return.”


10 posted on 02/15/2023 3:05:21 AM PST by dakine
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To: bakeneko

[If it’s mounted on a shark, that could spell big trouble.]

MI6 is significantly worried.


11 posted on 02/15/2023 3:09:53 AM PST by SaveFerris (Luke 17:28 ... as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold ......)
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To: SeekAndFind

12 posted on 02/15/2023 3:10:37 AM PST by SaveFerris (Luke 17:28 ... as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold ......)
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To: lightman

I will not defend foreign countries from invasions by other foreign countries.


13 posted on 02/15/2023 3:22:26 AM PST by joma89 (Buy weapons and ammo, folks, and have the will to use them.)
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To: Ronaldus Magnus III

I could be wrong, but wasn’t that base evacuated due to a volcano?


14 posted on 02/15/2023 3:48:08 AM PST by jimjohn (We're at war, people. Start acting like it.)
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To: SeekAndFind

If they were smart the countries of East,and Southeast,Asia would be pooping their pants right now. China will not be stopped...they will take Hong Kong (*completely*),Taiwan,South Korea,the Philippines and other countries as well. It’s just a question of when.


15 posted on 02/15/2023 4:14:29 AM PST by Gay State Conservative (No Doubt Now: Stolen Election)
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To: daku

Just raise up mirrors


16 posted on 02/15/2023 4:18:59 AM PST by AppyPappy (Biden told Al Roker "America is back". Unfortunately, he meant back to the 1970's)
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To: SeekAndFind

Oh wow. Wasn’t there reports just the other day of something similar happening near the United States?

Mysterious Green Lasers Over Hawaii Were Likely From Chinese Satellite
https://www.newsweek.com/mysterious-green-lasers-hawaii-chinese-satellite-nasa-1780468


17 posted on 02/15/2023 4:38:46 AM PST by EBH (America Blackmailed, The True Story of the World War...Coming Soon)
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To: jimjohn

No, that was Clark Air Base.


18 posted on 02/15/2023 6:10:44 AM PST by GreenLanternCorps (Hi! I'm the Dread Pirate Roberts! (TM) Ask about franchise opportunities in your area.)
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To: ChildOfThe60s

We have seriously run down our munitions shipping them off to Ukraine

Ukraine is a land war. Any war in the Pacific will be primarily Naval and Air, land assets need not apply.


19 posted on 02/15/2023 6:30:19 AM PST by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now its your turn)
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To: PIF

Point taken. You’re the second person here to correct me on that.

I’m still extremely skeptical nonetheless that we have the capability of carrying on a serious war anywhere, but particularly that far out. I can’t say who but I did recall some general saying that we did not have the capability of carrying a war with China for more than a week or two. I’m sure we could go longer than that. But I think that point is still valid.


20 posted on 02/15/2023 6:56:07 AM PST by ChildOfThe60s ( If you can remember the 60s.....you weren't really there..)
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