Russian sub 'worrisome' – Marcos

(UPDATE) PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday tagged the reported sighting of a Russian attack submarine in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) last week as "very worrisome." The UFA 490 submarine was spotted 148 kilometers west of Cape Calavite on Thursday, the Philippine military said. "Any intrusion into the West Philippine Sea, of our EEZ (exclusive economic zone), of our baselines, is very worrisome," the president told reporters in a chance interview in Marikina City. Marcos did not say what the government intends to do but said he would "let the military discuss" the matter. The Philippine Navy (PN) earlier reported a sighting of the Russian Navy's UFA 490 submarine 80 nautical miles west off Occidental Mindoro on Nov. 28. The submarine is a diesel-electric attack vessel designed by the Soviet Union in the 1970s and remains a crucial asset in the Russian Navy. The Philippines dispatched a plane and a warship to the submarine, where the crew said they were awaiting good weather before proceeding to Russia's Vladivostok, the Philippine Navy said in a statement Monday. Roy Vincent Trinidad, spokesman for the Navy in the South China Sea, said the incident was "not alarming." "But we were surprised because this is a... unique submarine," he said. Philippine naval forces, including an FF150, escorted and monitored the submarine to ensure its compliance with maritime regulations within the Philippine EEZ. "The AFP emphasizes its unwavering commitment to safeguarding the country's maritime sovereignty while maintaining professionalism in interactions with foreign naval vessels," Trinidad said. "Our operations remain consistent with international maritime laws and demonstrate our dedication to regional peace and cooperation," he added. The 74-meter (243-foot) long vessel is armed with a missile system that has a range of 12,000 kilometers, Russia's state-run Tass news agency said. The submarine was last seen in Philippine waters on Sunday, Trinidad said. Russia's embassy in Manila and the Philippine foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests to comment on the matter. The sighting of the Russian submarine came after Chinese maritime scientific research ships were also seen operating within and near the Philippines' EEZ. Senators also expressed concern and urged defense and foreign affairs officials to dig deeper into Russia's intention. Senate President Pro Tempore Jose Estrada urged the Department of National Defense (DND) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to clarify with Russian authorities in the country the submarine's objective in venturing into the WPS. "This situation is concerning," said Estrada, chairman of the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security. Sen. Joel Villanueva echoed his concern. Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III said "normally, a submarine, when traveling, is submerged under water." "If a submarine surfaces, then there must have been a problem with the submarine's condition," the senator said in a text message. Estrada said the presence of foreign military assets, especially those with offensive capabilities, increases the risk of misunderstandings and conflicts in an already sensitive region. Sen. Francis Tolentino said pending the outcome of diplomatic inquiries on this incident; he believes that the DFA "should continue to make known to the international community about the serious efforts of the Philippines to consolidate its claim and jurisdiction over its maritime zones and territorial waters."