MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has deployed two vessels to Rozul Reef following reports of harassment of Filipino fishing vessels by a helicopter from China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy.
The PCG received video footage and photographs of the harassment on Nov. 28 from a fishing boat that had returned to Quezon, Palawan.
The images were of a PLA Navy helicopter menacingly hovering over a Filipino fishing boat operating near Rozul Reef, a feature within the West Philippine Sea near Palawan.
In response, PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan ordered the deployment of BRP Melchora Aquino and BRP Cabra to the area.
The mission aims to ensure the safety and security of Filipino fishermen exercising their right to fish freely in the West Philippine Sea, while also asserting the country’s active presence in the contested waters.
Despite frequent harassment by the China Coast Guard, the PCG said that Filipino fishermen’s confidence has grown, buoyed by President Marcos’ firm stance on protecting their livelihood and interests. Marcos has vowed not to surrender “a single inch” of Philippine territory to foreign powers.
“The Philippine Coast Guard remains committed to safeguarding the rights of our fishermen and stands in full support of the President’s commitment to uphold our sovereignty, sovereign rights and maritime jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea,” the PCG said.
Russian sub in WPS worrisome – President Marcos
Meanwhile, Marcos yesterday said the sighting of a Russian submarine in Philippine waters was “very worrisome” even as his security official assured him that the vessel was just exercising freedom of navigation and right of innocent passage.
“We’ll let the military discuss it with you,” Marcos told reporters on the sidelines of a gift giving event at the Manila Boys Town Complex in Marikina City.
But when asked how he felt about the incident, the President responded, “All of that is very concerning.”
“Any intrusion into the West Philippine Sea, of our EEZ (exclusive economic zone), of our baselines is very worrisome. So, yes, it’s just another one,” Marcos said.
According to reports, the vessel was the Russian Navy’s Ufa, a Soviet-era Kilo II-class diesel-electric submarine commissioned in the 1970s.
It was first spotted some 80 nautical miles or 148 kilometers west off Occidental Mindoro on Nov. 28.
Though old in design, the Kilo-class has been modernized over the decades, leading to the improved Kilo II variant introduced between 2014 and 2016. It remains a crucial asset in the Russian Navy.
The Philippine Navy immediately sent an aircraft and a warship to track Ufa’s movement.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines said one of the Navy’s deployed assets, BRP Jose Rizal, “established radio communications with the submarine, which confirmed its identity, crew complement and navigational intent.”
The Ufa stayed on surface as it moved slowly northward outside Philippine territorial waters until the weekend, the Navy said.
At a televised public briefing, National Security Council assistant director general Jonathan Malaya said the government immediately sent aircraft and missile frigate Jose Rizal to “shadow” the Russian submarine inside the EEZ.
He said security officials were “very concerned” about the presence of the Russian submarine in the EEZ.
He said the government sent radio challenge to the Russian attack submarine, which replied that it came from exercises with the Royal Malaysian Navy in Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia and it was on its way to its naval base in Vladivostok, Russia.
“It said it was just waiting for the weather to improve, that’s why it surfaced,” Malaya said. “Eventually, in the afternoon it informed us that it will return to Russia.”
While the Philippines has sovereign rights to manage its natural resources and perform other economic activities within its EEZ, it does not have sovereignty within the area, meaning foreign vessels have the right of freedom of navigation and innocent passage as long as they do not loiter or engage in illegal activities such as the conduct of marine scientific survey.
Russia is a known ally of China, which has been aggressively staking claims in the West Philippine Sea.
For Senate President Pro-Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, the sighting of a Russian submarine in the West Philippine Sea is “concerning,” as it is a clear threat to regional security and stability.
“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,” Estrada, chairman of the Senate committee on national defense, said.
Sen. Joel Villanueva also expressed concern over the development and called for “heightened vigilance” in safeguarding the country’s territorial waters.
“We thank our Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine Navy for their unwavering commitment as the guardians of our seas, ensuring the safety and security of our maritime territory,” Villanueva said.
China warns Philippine
China, meanwhile, claimed its presence near Rozul Reef was part of “control measures” against Philippine ships it accused of “illegally gathering” in the area.
“Recently, several Philippine ships... illegally gathered under the pretense of fishing in the waters near Houteng Reef of China’s Nansha Islands,” China Coast Guard spokesperson Liu Dejun said in a statement, using the Chinese names for the Rozul Reef and Spratly Islands.
“The Chinese Coast Guard took necessary control measures against the Philippine ships in accordance with the law,” Liu said. “We warn the Philippine side to immediately stop its infringements and provocations.” — Cecille Suerte Felipe