Philippine authorities are investigating a Chinese-marked underwater drone recovered in internal waters off Masbate, citing potential national security implications.
Three Filipino fishermen discovered the six-foot, torpedo-shaped device, labeled “HY-119”, on December 30, 2024, about nine kilometers off the coast of San Pascual town in Masbate province.
The fishermen immediately handed it over to village officials, who then alerted the police. The drone, constructed from PVC and metal, was deactivated when found.
“Based on the markings found, this was a Chinese underwater navigation and communication system,” said Bicol regional police director Brigadier General Andre Dizon. He described the cylindrical device as equipped with a steel antenna and features suited for monitoring and reconnaissance.
“It has an antenna and an eye that can be used for viewing. Based on our research, this can be used for monitoring and reconnaissance,” Dizon explained.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has taken possession of the drone and is investigating its origin and purpose. “The Navy is conducting further investigation to determine its origin and purpose,” AFP spokesperson Col. Xerxes Trinidad confirmed.
He commended the vigilance of local fisherfolk and encouraged continued collaboration with maritime authorities. “We commend their vigilance and continued support in reporting suspicious activities and encourage ongoing cooperation to ensure the effective monitoring of our territorial waters,” Trinidad said.
Authorities suspect the drone may have been conducting seabed mapping for potential submarine deployment. Experts warn its presence in Philippine waters reflects China’s increasing interest in the country’s internal maritime areas.
A suspected Chinese submarine drone found off San Pascual, Masbate, on December 30, 2024.
Calls for stronger maritime defenses
The incident has reignited calls to bolster maritime defenses. Surigao del Norte Representative Robert Ace Barbers urged the government to establish a naval facility under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with the United States, particularly along the eastern seaboard.
“With the growing global race to find renewable sources of fuel or energy like deuterium, which reportedly is found abundant in the deep seas in the country’s eastern seaboard, it is not farfetched that China also wanted to get a hand on it,” Barbers said.
Deuterium, a hydrogen isotope with applications in science, industry, and military technology, is believed to be abundant in the Philippine Rise. Barbers warned that foreign operations could target these resources for exploitation.
Growing tensions
Masbate, located between Luzon and Visayas, lies near critical maritime routes in the West Philippine Sea and the Philippine Rise. Chinese vessels, including research ships, have frequently appeared in these waters despite international rulings rejecting Beijing’s expansive territorial claims.
The AFP has vowed to protect the country’s waters and strengthen maritime security amid increasing intrusions. It said it is deploying all necessary resources to safeguard the country’s waters.
The discovery of the drone adds to the Philippines’ ongoing maritime tensions with China over contested territories in the West Philippine Sea.
In recent years, Chinese research vessels have been spotted on the eastern side of the Philippines, including the resource-rich Philippine Rise. Chinese ships have also continued to swarm various parts of the West Philippine Sea, despite Manila’s 370-kilometer exclusive economic zone.
The situation underscores the need for increased vigilance and undersea domain awareness, experts say, as regional powers compete for strategic and resource-rich areas in the Indo-Pacific.
All photos credit: Police Regional Office 5
Top photo: A suspected Chinese submarine drone found off San Pascual, Masbate, on December 30, 2024.
