The Philippines Coast Guard stated on Friday it was concerned in a confrontation with Chinese vessels that made “dangerous maneuvers” within the South China Sea, the newest in a string of tense maritime interactions between the 2 international locations.

The incident occurred because the Coast Guard undertook a week-long patrol within the strategic waterway and as Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang visited Manila final weekend to satisfy his Philippine counterpart and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

China claims many of the South China Sea, by way of which an estimated $3 trillion of {dollars} value of products move every year. The Philippines has repeatedly known as on Beijing to cease its “aggressive activities” within the space.

The Coast Guard stated that throughout the April 18-24 mission, it recognized greater than 100 “alleged Chinese maritime militia vessels, a People’s Liberation Army Navy corvette class and two China Coast Guard vessels” throughout the Philippines’ 200-mile unique financial zone.

It added that one Chinese vessel “carried out dangerous maneuvers” at a distance of about 150 toes from a Philippine ship. Two different ships exhibited “aggressive tactics”, posing a “significant threat to the safety and security of the Philippine vessel and its crew”, it added.

The Chinese embassy in Manila didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.

In February, the Philippine Coast Guard stated a Chinese counterpart ship had directed a “military-grade laser” at one in all its ships supporting a resupply mission to troops within the disputed waterway, briefly blinding its crew on the bridge.