Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian met with Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Andres Centino met on Wednesday to discuss peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.

This comes after President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. summoned Huang after the Chinese Coast Guard pointed a military-grade laser at the Philippine Coast Guard’s (PCG) BRP Malapascua near Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.

The Coast Guard vessel was supporting the resupply mission to a grounded Philippine ship at the shoal.

In a Facebook post, Huang said he had a “cordial and constructive meeting” with Centino during his visit to Camp Aguinaldo.

“We discussed matters pertaining to mil-to-mil exchange and cooperation as well as sustaining peace and stability in the region,” he said.

PCG said that the laser caused temporary blindness to their crew on the vessel.

China previously rejected claims that it pointed a laser at the PCG vessel, saying that the Philippines’ allegation “did not reflect the truth”.

In a press conference in Beijing on Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said they used a hand-held greenlight pointer to “signal directions and ensure navigation safety”.

“We need to highlight the fact that the China Coast Guard ship did not direct lasers at the Philippine crew, and the hand-held equipment does not inflict damage on anything or anyone on the vessel,” Wang said. Jaspearl Tan/DMS