WWIII

Russian Attack Submarine Intercepted in South China Sea

Published Dec 02, 2024
By Ryan Chan
China News Reporter

The Philippines said that the "intrusion" into its economic waters in the South China Sea by a Russian submarine, which is armed with missiles, was "very worrisome."

The Armed Forces of the Philippines said that Thursday, the Russian Improved Kilo II-class diesel-electric attack submarine Ufa was transiting on the surface 80 nautical miles west of Cape Calavite in the Philippine western province of Occidental Mindoro.

Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. described this as a "very concerning" incident.

"Any intrusion into the West Philippine Sea, of our EEZ (exclusive economic zone), of our baselines is very worrisome," he said in a media interview on Monday.

The West Philippine Sea refers only to the waters in the South China Sea that fall within the Philippine EEZ. This maritime area extends up to 200 nautical miles from the country's coast, including the territorial sea, which is measured 12 nautical miles from the coast.

Newsweek reached out to Russia's Defense Ministry and the Russian embassy in Manila for comment.

This came as the Russian military, which is engaging in a war with Ukraine, sent a naval fleet to countries in Southeast Asia in early October, including Malaysia, Myanmar, Indonesia, and Thailand, making port calls and conducting drills with the host countries.

The presence of the 3,900-ton Russian submarine, which is capable of firing Kalibr cruise missiles that have seen extensive use in strikes against Ukraine, came after Marcos signed two laws rejecting sea boundary claims made by China in the contested South China Sea.

One of the laws, the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, delineates the country's critical territorial areas, including its EEZ in the South China Sea. Meanwhile, the Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act designates sea lanes and air routes for foreign vessels and aircraft to navigate.

Russian crew members stand on the Ufa submarine as it prepares to dock at the Indonesian port of Surabaya on November 7. The submarine is transiting from the Baltic Sea to the Vladivostok in Russia's... More JUNI KRISWANTO/AFP via Getty Images

According to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, or UNCLOS, all countries enjoy freedom of navigation in the EEZ. Jonathan Malaya, the assistant director general of the Philippine National Security Council, reiterated this.

The Philippine military immediately sent its naval forces to monitor the Ufa, including a frigate armed with missiles and anti-submarine warfare capabilities. This, the military said, ensured the submarine's compliance with maritime regulations within the Philippine EEZ.

"The Russian vessel stated it was awaiting improved weather conditions before proceeding to Vladivostok, Russia," the Armed Forces of the Philippines said. The country's navy said the exchange of information through radio contact with the submarine was "friendly."

The Ufa, which "did not do anything aggressive" near the Philippines, left for its destination later in the day, according to Manila. The submarine, built in St. Petersburg, is transiting from the Baltic Sea to the Vladivostok-based Pacific Fleet in Russia's Far East region.

The Russian submarine reached the Indo-Pacific region in October, visiting Kochi on the southwestern coast of India on October 21. It later arrived at the Indonesian port of Surabaya on November 7 and the Malaysian port of Kota Kinabalu on November 20.

Following a visit to Kota Kinabalu, the first time Russian warships had visited there, the Ufa conducted an exercise with Malaysian naval vessels in the South China Sea, practicing joint maneuvering, communication, and other forms of cooperation.