Philippine and Chinese officials have discussed a recent laser-pointing incident on a newly-established communication line.

On Monday, the Philippine Coast Guard said that a Chinese government ship had directed a military-grade laser at its patrol ship near a shoal of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea on February 6. It said that the incident took place within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.

The Chinese side denied the allegation.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. summoned the Chinese ambassador to express his serious concern over the incident.

The Philippines' Department of Foreign Affairs held a news conference on Thursday after the department's officials and their Chinese counterparts discussed the issue using the new communication line for the first time.

During the talks, the Chinese officials said that it was not a laser used by the military, but one to be used to measure distances. The Philippine officials said that China's action put the Filipino vessel and its crew in danger.

A spokesperson of the Philippine foreign affairs department quoted the Philippine officials as saying that they have no reason to doubt the account made by the country's coast guard regarding the incident.

The spokesperson added that the officials expressed the country's disappointment over the incident and called on China to refrain from committing such actions in the future.

In January, the leaders of the two countries agreed to establish a new communication channel to discuss the issue of the South China Sea, over which both countries claim sovereignty.