A signal-jamming device allegedly installed at Mischief Reef by China can prevent and manipulate electronic communications of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, a maritime expert said.

University of the Philippines College of Law professor Jay Batongbacal said it’s a “serious development from a military perspective kasi literally they can blind the entire Armed Forces anywhere in the Philippines using this equipment.”

Citing information from US defense officials, the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday reported that the equipment had been deployed to a portion of the Mischief reef.

Batongbacal noted that Philippine ships patrolling the Pag-asa island and the Ayungin shoal could be affected.

"Pwede rin nilang, theoretically, i-jam or at least mag-interfere sa kahit anong electronic communications ng Pilipinas from those locations," he added.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano had said that concerns regarding the Philippines' security in the South China Sea are being relayed to the Chinese government through a "bilateral consultative mechanism."

"It has been said that we're doing nothing. This is a complete falsehood. Just because we're not announcing our diplomatic actions does not mean we do not have any diplomatic actions," Cayetano said.

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Meanwhile, twenty US F-18 fighter jets aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt had also been deployed to the South China Sea, which the US Army said is part of their routine training exercises.

Batongbacal cited a report a few years ago where China allegedly jammed radio communications of Indonesian authorities during a law enforcement operation while pursuing a Chinese vessel.

“It was reported that the Indonesians were unable to contact their government for instructions because they were being jammed yung signals nila,” said Batongbacal.

GMA News has sought NTC and AFP for comment.

Mischief Reef is part of China’s nine-dash line claim which has already been invalidated by a UN-based tribunal.

Around $5.3 trillion in trade passes through the South China Sea every year, according to reports. —with Margaret Claire Layug/JST, GMA News