Russian attack submarine spotted in West Philippine Sea is 'worrisome': Marcos | ABS-CBN

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Russian attack submarine spotted in West Philippine Sea is 'worrisome': Marcos

Russian attack submarine spotted in West Philippine Sea is 'worrisome': Marcos

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Updated Dec 02, 2024 01:39 PM PHT

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The Russian submarine UFA 490 is being monitored and escorted by a Philippine Navy aircraft during the former's transit in the West Philippine Sea on November 28. AFP

MANILA — A Russian attack submarine was recently spotted in Philippine waters in a development which President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said was “worrisome.”

“That’s very concerning. Any intrusion in the West Philippine Sea or of our EEZ or our baselines is very worrisome,” Marcos Jr. told reporters on the sidelines of a gift-giving event in Marikina.

“We’ll let the military discuss it with me,” he added.



The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said that that the Russian submarine, identified as UFA 490, was sighted 80 nautical miles west of Cape Calavite, Occidental Mindoro on November 28. 

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It said the Philippine Navy immediately deployed assets to monitor the situation.

"The Navy's BRP Jose Rizal (FF150) established radio communications with the submarine, which confirmed its identity, crew complement, and navigational intent. The Russian vessel stated it was awaiting improved weather conditions before proceeding to Vladivostok, Russia," the AFP 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," it added.

The sub was only “exercising freedom of navigation” and has left the West Philippine Sea, the National Security Council (NSC) said on Monday. 

“Nagpakilala siya at sinabi niya na galing siyang exercises with the Royal Malaysian Navy sa Kota Kinabalu sa Malaysia at on the way na siya pabalik sa kaniyang naval base sa Vladivostok,” NSC Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya said. 

“Noong kinahapunan, nagpaalam na siya na babalik siya sa Russia… Naging maayos naman po yung ating pagmomonitor sa Russian attack submarine na ito at every step of the way minonitor at inalam natin ang kaniyang ginagawa,” he told state television PTV.

“Hindi siya territorial sea ng Pilipinas, nasa high seas siya so technicaly, the Russian ship is exercising freedom of navigation,” he said.

Under international law, foreign vessels can freely pass through waters that do not fall within a country’s territorial waters provided that they would not conduct economic activities at least 200 nautical miles from any country’s coast.

The high seas are waters beyond 200 nautical miles away from a country’s coast.

Malaya insisted that the Russian vessel still had the right to pass through the area.

“Part pa din yan ng high seas kaya kahit sinong barko ay puwedeng dumaan diyan so long as hindi siya nagloloiter, hindi siya kumukuha ng resources o kaya ay mayroon siyang ibang ginagawa na hindi tama gaya ng paggawa ng marine scientific survey,” the NSC official said.






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