Philippines condemns China's 'aggressive' laser use against ship

The Philippines condemned Tuesday the "aggressive" actions of a Chinese security vessel, which is accused of using a military-grade laser light against a Philippine patrol boat in the disputed South China Sea, leaving crew members temporarily blinded. The incident happened on February 6 nearly 20 kilometres from Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands, where Philippine marines are stationed in a derelict navy ship grounded to assert Manila's territorial claim in the waters. The Department of Foreign Affairs said it had filed a diplomatic protest to the Chinese embassy in Manila over the "latest aggressive activities of the Chinese Coast…