MANILA, Philippines — China’s latest act of using sonic devices to harass Philippine vessels and their crew in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) further proves how Beijing is the one increasing tension in the region, according to a Philippine military official.
Philippine Navy spokesman for the WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad yesterday stressed that the use of long-range acoustic devices (LRAD) reflects “an increase in the aggression of the Chinese Communist Party in the West Philippine Sea.”
“It only highlights the illegal presence, their coercive and now more aggressive actions, and their deceptive messaging by saying that Bajo de Masinloc (Panatag Shoal) is part of their territory,” Trinidad told reporters.
“Connecting the dots, this will show us also the same deceptive messaging in the handling of this Chinese national who was arrested conducting intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance of government critical infrastructure. Connecting all these dots, we could now see… a clearer picture of what is happening. It’s not yet a complete puzzle. The puzzle is still being assembled, but we are now starting to see bits and pieces of the direction where this is taking us,” he explained.
Despite what China is doing, the Navy official lauded and highlighted how the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has been standing its ground even with last year’s use of a military-grade laser and this time an LRAD as part of the China Coast Guard (CCG)’s increasingly aggressive actions in the WPS.
He reassured that the Armed Forces of the Philippines is doing its part and has been continuously conducting patrol operations in the Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal and all other features of the WPS within the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
“The Philippine Navy, three weeks ago, our frigate conducted a patrol there. Two weeks ago, we had a unilateral Philippine exercise south of Bajo de Masinloc. So the Philippine Coast Guard is there, the Philippine Navy, the Armed Forces, the Air Force, the Army, the Navy, we were all there protecting our sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea,” Trinidad said.
He added that China’s ships and maritime militia vessels continue to roam the WPS as two People’s Liberation Army Navy ships, five CCG boats and two MMVs were monitored during the last rotation and resupply mission conducted last Friday. — Ghio Ong