Philippines Condemns China's LRAD Use Against Its Coast Guard, CCG 5901 "Monster" Ship's Continued Presence as "Unacceptable Provocation"

The CCG 3103 that deployed the acoustic device was being escorted by the world's largest Coast Guard vessel: 12,000-ton CCG 5901, also named the "monster ship".

MANILA/BEIJING - The Philippine military has condemned China's use of a long-range acoustic device (LRAD) against the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), marking an increase in aggression by the Chinese Communist Party. Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada described it as an "unacceptable provocation" and a serious escalation.

12,000-ton CCG 5901, also named the "monster ship". The 5901 was first spotted off Zambales on January 4th and has not left the area since.

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The LRAD used by the China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel 3103 on January 25th, is capable of producing high decibel levels that can be painful and damaging to hearing. PCG Commodore Jay Tarriela indicated that the purpose of this device appeared to be to deter the BRP Cabra from approaching the CCG vessel any closer.

Estrada said, "The harassment and abuse of our rights will never be acceptable, especially at risk of patrolling our oceans," and said that the use of the LRAD, which risks causing irreversible damage to hearing constitutes a grave violation of international maritime laws and urged China to “adhere to international norms.”

The CCG 3103 that deployed the acoustic device was being escorted by the world's largest Coast Guard vessel: 12,000-ton CCG 5901, also named the "monster ship". The 5901 was first spotted off Zambales on January 4th and has not left the area since.

According to the PCG, a Chinese Coast Guard vessel also hindered the PCG's BRP Cabra (MRRV-4409) Parola-class patrol vessel from responding to a distress call and recovering the body of a deceased fisherman from around 70 nautical miles from the Silanguin Island in Zambales.

Tarriela said in a statement regarding the distress call, "Unfortunately, the team discovered that the fisherman had no pulse and was already deceased".

He said that the BRP Cabra carried out hourly radio challenges, "to assert that the Chinese presence violates the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and the 2016 Arbitral Award.”

“Despite the harassment and the intimidating presence of the Chinese monster ship, BRP Cabra remains committed to its mission,” Tarriela added.

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