The Philippine Navy on Tuesday condemned the China Coast Guard’s (CCG) use of a long-range acoustic device (LRAD), calling it a clear sign of Beijing’s escalating aggression in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

“The use of the LRAD signals an increase in the Chinese Communist Party’s aggression in the West Philippine Sea. It only underscores their illegal presence, coercive actions, and deceptive claims, particularly regarding Bajo de Masinloc,” Navy spokesperson for WPS, Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, said during a press conference at Camp Aguinaldo.

This latest incident follows the Philippine Coast Guard’s (PCG) condemnation of the CCG’s use of the LRAD against the BRP Cabra, which was conducting patrol operations off the coast of Zambales. The LRAD emits high-decibel sound waves that can cause severe pain and potential hearing damage.

Trinidad further criticized China’s ongoing efforts to assert its territorial claims over the South China Sea, stating, “This is part of their larger pattern of deceptive messaging, as seen with the arrest of a Chinese national involved in intelligence surveillance of critical Philippine infrastructure.”

He added that these actions are part of a broader strategy that is beginning to take shape. “By connecting all the dots, we are beginning to get a clearer picture of what’s happening. The puzzle is still incomplete, but we’re starting to see where this is leading,” he said.

Despite the heightened hostilities, Trinidad commended the PCG and the Armed Forces of the Philippines for standing firm in the face of Chinese aggression. “We salute the PCG for their resilience, particularly in their response to last year’s military laser incidents and now the LRAD,” he said.

Trinidad emphasized that the Philippine military remains unwavering in its commitment to defend the country’s territories, especially its exclusive economic zone in the WPS. “Our patrols continue. The Philippine Air Force has been conducting regular aerial patrols over Bajo de Masinloc, and the Philippine Navy recently conducted a patrol and exercise in the region,” he noted.