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The Russian submarine identified itself in response to a
Philippine navy two-way radio inquiry, saying it was en route
home to Russia’s eastern city of Vladivostok after joining an
exercise with the Malaysian navy, Jonathan Malaya, assistant
director-general of the National Security Council, said.
The submarine, like other foreign ships, has the right of
“innocent passage” in the country’s exclusive economic zone but
it still sparked concern when it was spotted on Thursday about
80 nautical miles (148 kilometers) off the Philippine province
of Mindoro, Malaya said.
The submarine was sighted after it surfaced due to
weather-related conditions, Malaya said.
“All of that is very concerning,” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
told reporters when asked about the submarine. “Any intrusion
into the West Philippine Sea, of our EEZ, of our baselines is
very worrisome. So, yes, it’s just another one.”
Marcos used the Philippine name for the South China Sea, where
his country plus Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and other coastal
states have faced an increasingly aggressive China, which claims
the busy waterway virtually in its entirety.
An alarming spike in territorial confrontations, particularly
between Chinese and Philippine coast guard and naval forces,
starting last year has prompted closer surveillance by the
United States and other Western governments of the key global
trade route.
The Philippines coast guard said Monday that a Chinese military
helicopter flew close to fishing boats manned by Filipinos in a
“dangerous act of harassment” last week at Iroquois Reef, a
disputed fishing area in the South China Sea.
Two Philippine coast guard patrol ships have been deployed to
the area to protect Filipino fishermen, coast guard spokesperson
Commodore Jay Tarriela said.
There was no immediate comment from Chinese officials.
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