‘The Russian vessel stated it was awaiting improved weather before proceeding to Vladivostok,’ Philippine Navy spokesperson Roy Vincent Trinidad said.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expressed concerns on Monday about a Russian submarine that allegedly entered his country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea.
“All of that is very concerning. Any intrusion into the West Philippine Sea, of our EEZ, of our baselines is very worrisome,” Marcos told reporters in Marikina City, according to a
statement from the Philippine Presidential Communications Office. An EEZ generally extends 200 nautical miles around a nation.
A Russian Kilo-class submarine, identified as “UFA-490,” was sighted 80 nautical miles off the western province of Occidental Mindoro on Nov. 28, Philippine Navy spokesperson Roy Vincent Trinidad said in a statement.
In response, the Philippine Navy dispatched a missile frigate. The vessel was able to establish radio communication with the Russian submarine, which confirmed its identity, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said in a statement on Monday,
according to the state-run Philippine News Agency.
The outlet also cited remarks by Jonathan Malaya, assistant director general of the Philippine National Security Council, who said that the Russian submarine was not in Philippine territory and was exercising freedom of navigation. He said the Russian vessel immediately identified itself when it received a radio challenge. The Russian submarine then left the area for its base in Russia on the same day, according to Malaya.
Trinidad said the exchange with the Russian submarine was friendly, according to the outlet.
“The Russian vessel stated it was awaiting improved weather conditions before proceeding to Vladivostok, Russia,” Trinidad said.
The Russian vessel also said it had been conducting a passing exercise with the Royal Malaysian Navy off the coast of Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, according to the Philippine agency.
Two Philippine senators issued separate statements on Monday expressing concerns.
Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada
said the incident has raised “significant questions about the stability and security” of his country’s “volatile maritime domain.”
“The presence of foreign military assets, especially those with offensive capabilities, increases the risk of misunderstandings and conflicts,” Estrada said.
Sen. Joel Villanueva
said the incident “underscores the need for heightened vigilance.”
“We must remain vigilant, united, and proactive in defending our national interests, while fostering diplomatic efforts to maintain peace and stability in the region,” Villanueva added.
The Russian Pacific Fleet’s press office said in a Nov. 25
statement that the “diesel-electric submarine Ufa, escorted by the Pacific Fleet’s rescue tug Alatau,” had finished its official visit at the port of Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia and “conducted the PASSEX naval drills with ships of the Malaysian Navy in the South China Sea,” according to Russia’s Tass news agency.
Earlier this year, the Philippines
criticized Beijing for ramming its boats, blasting its boats with water cannons, and
firing flares at its aircraft, with most of the
incidents occurring around the contested Sabina Shoal in the South China Sea.
China and Russia have been growing steadily closer since the two neighboring countries
inked a “no limits” partnership in February 2022, just weeks before Russia invaded Ukraine.
The two countries
conducted joint naval exercises in the South China Sea in July and
sent their warships to an area near Alaska for a joint naval operation.
On Dec. 2, Commodore Jay Tarriela, spokesman for the Philippine Coast Guard,
shared two clips and two pictures on social media platform X. He said the video footage showed “the harassment of Filipino fishing vessels by a PLA Navy helicopter in Rozul Reef” on Nov. 28. PLA is an acronym for the Chinese communist regime’s military, the People’s Liberation Army.
In response, Adm. Ronnie Gil Gavan dispatched two vessels, to “provide evidence of the active presence of Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea,” according to Tarriela.
“The Philippine Coast Guard remains committed to safeguarding the rights of our fishermen and stands in support of President’s commitment to uphold our sovereignty, sovereignty rights, and maritime jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea,” Tarriela wrote.
Hours after his initial post, Tarriela
posted on X again to dismiss a claim by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs that its action was “lawful,” saying that Rozul Reef is located within his country’s EEZ.
“If you interpret the PLA Navy Helicopter’s harassment of civilian Filipino fishermen as simply a lawful and legitimate operation, it underscores China’s blatant disregard for the rights of civilians and basic human rights,” Tarriela wrote.
