THE Chinese Embassy in Manila yesterday belied the claim of the Philippine Coast Guard that the Chinese Coast Guard has used a long-range acoustic device (LRAD) to harass their vessels in the West Philippine Sea.
LRAD can produce high-decibel sounds that can be painful and potentially damaging to hearing. It may even result in permanent hearing loss.
“As we verify, the Chinese Coast Guard ship is not equipped with such devices,” the embassy said in a brief statement when asked about the PCG claim.
Chinese coast guard vessels have been using water cannons and “dangerous maneuvers” to harass and intimidate Philippine vessels in the WPS.
PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Commodore Jay Tarriela said in a statement Saturday night that a China Coast Guard vessel with hull number 3103 used an LRAD to harass BRP Cabra (MRRV-4409) and to deter its approach.
The Chinese vessel relieved another vessel on Saturday afternoon while conducting patrol in the area, which is well within the Philippine 200-mile exclusive economic zone.
Tarriela yesterday reiterated the PCG will not retaliate over the latest harassment incident which occurred off Zambales in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
He said the PCG will continue with its normal radio challenges against the Chinese.
“As far as the Coast Guard is concerned, the guidance of the President is very clear. We should not be instigated (into retaliating), to be the reason of escalation,” he said in a radio interview.
PCG vessels have been subjected to other forms of harassment in the WPS in months, including water cannoning, ramming and dangerous maneuvers, but have not retaliated so as not to worsen the tension between the Philippines and China.
Tarriela said the PCG has been “documenting and even vigilantly monitoring” the presence of Chinese vessels in the area since January 14.
“What we are doing right now is an hourly radio challenge, reminding the China Coast Guard vessels that they are conducting illegal patrol within our own exclusive economic zone, and that they are violating our Philippine Maritime Zones Act, UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) and even the 2016 Arbitral Award,” he said.
Tarriela said the PCG deployment in the area was meant to “counter their (Chinese) intention to normalize their illegal deployment and illegal patrol within our own exclusive economic zone.”
Tarriela said one of the PCG personnel who taking video footage of the incident had to go back inside the bridge of BRP Cabra “because of the painful hearing caused by the LRAD.”
“If that is pointed at you, it will really inflict some pain in your eardrum. The longer you listen to it, it would result to headache, and pain to your ears,” he said.
In a statement on Sunday night, Tarriela said the PCG remains to be committed to challenging the illegal presence of the CCG off Zambales despite the recent developments.
“The PCG will not allow China to alter the status quo by encroaching closer to the coastline of Zambales,” said Tarriela.
“Our continued presence serves as a clear demonstration of our commitment to upholding our sovereign rights and a steadfast stance against any violations of international law, all while prioritizing a peaceful approach,” said Tarriela. – With Victor Reyes