The Philippine Navy on Tuesday said the China Coast Guard’s use of a long-range acoustic device (LRAD) only demonstrates Beijing’s heightened aggression in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

“The long-range acoustic device is an increase in the aggression of the Chinese Communist Party in the West Philippine Sea. It highlights their illegal presence, coercive actions, and deceptive messaging by claiming that Bajo de Masinloc is part of their territory,” Navy spokesperson for WPS, Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, said in a press conference at Camp Aguinaldo.

Last Sunday, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) condemned the China Coast Guard’s use of the LRAD against its BRP Cabra, which was conducting patrol operations off the Zambales coast.

The LRAD produced high-decibel sound waves that can cause pain and potential hearing damage.

Trinidad slammed China’s illegal efforts to justify its overlapping territorial claims over the South China Sea.

“Connecting the dots, this shows us the same deceptive messaging in the handling of the Chinese national who was arrested conducting intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance of government-critical infrastructure,” he said.

“Connecting all these dots, we could now see a bigger picture that would give the government 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 added.

Trinidad commended the PCG and the Armed Forces of the Philippines for not backing down against China’s increasing hostilities in the WPS.

“I would like to highlight that amid all of this increase in aggressive actions by the Coast Guard, the Philippine Coast Guard has been standing its ground. We would like to commend the men and women of the Philippine Coast Guard for holding the line against last year's military laser, and this time, a long-range acoustic device,” he said.

The Navy official stressed that the military remains relentless in defending the country’s territories, particularly in protecting the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone in the WPS.

“We have been conducting our patrols by air. The Philippine Air Force has been conducting regular patrols over Bajo de Masinloc and all other features of the West Philippine Sea. The Philippine Navy, three weeks ago, had our frigate conduct a patrol there. Two weeks ago, we had a unilateral Philippine exercise south of Bajo de Masinloc,” he noted.