Philippine media reported that fishermen in the central Masbate province discovered an unmanned underwater vehicle believed to be from China. The Philippine police said this device could be used for surveillance and reconnaissance and is believed to belong to the Chinese navy, "potentially affecting national security."
The discovery location is 800 kilometers away from the Spratly Islands
Reportedly, three fishermen discovered the unmanned underwater vehicle about 9 kilometers off the coast of San Pascual in Masbate province on the 30th and handed it over to local police.
Philippine police stated that this yellow unmanned underwater vehicle has an antenna and an “eye” with the “HY-119” mark, measuring about 2 meters in length and shaped like a finned torpedo: “Based on publicly available online information, HY-119 refers to a type of underwater navigation and communication system from China.” This allows submarines or underwater equipment to communicate with ground units or satellites, and can also send and receive data, voice messages, and navigation information.
The Philippine police have handed over the unmanned underwater vehicle to the navy. The Director of the Philippine Armed Forces Public Affairs Office, Trinidad, stated in a statement on the 2nd that the navy is investigating its origin and purpose in Philippine waters.
For many years, China and the Philippines have had conflicts over the sovereignty of various islands and sea areas in the South China Sea. However, the waters where the suspected Chinese unmanned underwater vehicle was found are in the central Philippines, approximately 800 kilometers from the Spratly Islands, and do not belong to disputed areas. However, U.S. warships occasionally use waterways in this area to enter the South China Sea from the Western Pacific.