MANILA, Philippines—Chinese and other intruders in Philippine waters will soon hear messages asserting peace and rules-based order with a female voice.
Eighty-one female members of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), part of Angels of the Sea Class 01-2021, finished the first all-women special radio operators course last June 25.
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The women spent two weeks training to hone communication skills to uphold maritime law enforcement, maritime safety and security at sea.
The PCG said by using a female voice, tension can be reduced and confrontations can be avoided, especially in dealing with Chinese and other foreign ships that encroach in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea.
Chinese vessels continued to encroach into the West Philippine Sea as Beijing aggressively enforces its baseless claim to owning almost the entire South China Sea.
“We recognize the evolving unique importance of having female radio operators aboard PCG vessels and shore-based units, especially in communicating with foreign ships, so as not to elevate tension,” said Vice Admiral Leopoldo Laroya, PCG deputy commandant for operations, in a statement.
“We want our Angels of the Sea to become the voice of peaceful and rules-based order at sea, especially in our country’s sensitive maritime frontiers,” he added.
Laroya said he hopes the new graduates would contribute to successful operations by using their voices “to sway those who are listening.” PCG said its radio operators course used to be exclusively for males.
The Philippine government stepped up patrols in the West Philippine Sea after more than 200 China vessels, believed to be part of a Chinese militia, anchored on Julian Felipe (Whitsun) Reef, which is inside the Philippines’ EEZ, last March.
The China vessels had dispersed but merely transferred to other areas inside the Philippines’ EEZ.