THE Philippine Navy yesterday said there was nothing illegal in the passage of a Russian submarine in the contested West Philippine Sea in the South China Sea.
Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad, Navy spokesman for the West Philippine Sea (WPS) confirmed the sighting of the UFA 490 submarine some 80 nautical miles west of Cape Calavite in Occidental Mindoro on Thursday last week.
“Upon receiving the report, the Philippine Navy immediately deployed assets to monitor and address the situation, ensuring the security of Philippine waters,” he said.
Trinidad said a Navy frigate, BRP Jose Rizal (FF150), was sent to the area and established radio communication with the submarine which promptly declared its identify, crew complement, and its “navigational intent.”
“The Russian vessel stated it was awaiting improved weather conditions before proceeding to Vladivostok, Russia,” he said.
“Philippine naval forces, including FF150, escorted and monitored operations to ensure the submarine’s compliance with maritime regulations within the Philippine exclusive economic zone (EEZ),” he added.
Trinidad said four different types of aircraft were deployed to monitor the movement of the vessel from Thursday until last Sunday.
He said the submarine came from Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia where it held naval exercises with the Malaysian Navy. The vessel was on its way back to Vladivostok, passing through the West Philippine Sea, when it was sighted off Occidental Mindoro.
Trinidad said the submarine was in the northern part of the country as of last Sunday.
Asked if this was the first time they monitored a Russian submarine in the West Philippine Sea, Trinidad said, “I would say yes, the first time that we detected, responded and tracked.”
FREEDOM OF NAVIGATION
Trinidad said the Navy was “surprised” by the presence of the Russian submarine in the West Philippine Sea.
“We were able to respond, we were able to establish communication … The exchange of information was friendly, and they disclosed where they were heading,” he said.
“(It’s) not illegal because under UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea), they are authorized to pass our EEZ under freedom of navigation,” said Trinidad.
He said the submarine did not do any aggressive action during its passage.
National Security Council Assistant Director General and National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea spokesman Jonathan Malaya said the government was concerned.
“That’s why we deployed assets and we made radio challenges. We challenged the attack submarine and asked them what they are doing inside our exclusive economic zone,” said Malaya.
Malaya said the submarine responded to the radio challenges, declaring where it came from and its destination.
“It said it came from exercises with the Royal Malaysia Navy in Kota Kinabalu and it was just waiting for weather to improve (in Russia), that’s why it surfaced,” he said.
“It’s in the high seas, it’s inside our exclusive economic zone so technically, the Russian ship is exercising freedom of navigation,” said Malaya.
Malaya said foreign vessels are allowed to pass the EEZ of another country so long as they do not loiter, exploit natural resources and conduct maritime scientific survey, among others.
“In this case, this vessel did not do anything (illegal),” he said.
“In the same manner, if our ships go to pass another country’s exclusive economic zone, they are also given the right of freedom of navigation and innocent passage as long as they do not do anything illegal or violate the laws of that country,,” said Malaya.
CONCERNS RAISED
Earlier yesterday before Trinidad issued details on the presence of the Russian submarine, President Marcos Jr said it was “very concerning” and “very worrisome.”
In an ambush interview at a Christmas gift-giving event at the Manila Boys Town Complex in Marikina City, the President declined to elaborate and it would be the military that would explain.
“Let’s just wish Merry Christmas to all of these people,” he added.
When pressed if the presence of the submarine is a concern, Marcos said “that’s very concerning.”
“Any intrusion into the West Philippine Sea, of our EEZ, of our baselines is very worrisome. Yes, it’s just another one,” he added.
Senate President pro tempore Jinggoy Estrada, chairman of the Committee on National Defense, said the presence of the submarine “with offensive capabilities” will increase the risk of “misunderstandings and conflicts in an already sensitive region.”
“This situation is concerning, raising significant questions about the stability and security of our already volatile maritime domain which is a flashpoint for geopolitical tensions,” he said.
Sen. Joel Villanueva said the government should remain vigilant in safeguarding the country’s territory, adding that the newly-signed law which defines the Philippines’ territorial waters should be a tool to “assert and protect our sovereignty over our waters.”
“The reported presence of a Russian submarine in the West Philippine Sea is truly concerning. This underscores the need for heightened vigilance in safeguarding our territorial waters … We must remain vigilant, united, and proactive in defending our national interests, while fostering diplomatic efforts to maintain peace and stability in the region,” he added. — With Jocelyn Montemayor and Raymond Africa
