Russia says submarine violated no law in PH EEZ

Russia’s embassy in Manila on Wednesday said its submarine which passed through the South China Sea and the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone did not violate international law.

The vessel, it added, maintained radio contact with Philippine authorities the whole time, indicating “she has no unscrupulous intentions.”

“In accordance with the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in the exclusive economic zone, all merchant vessels and warships, including submarines, enjoy freedom of navigation as on the high seas,” an embassy statement said.

“The are no signs of violation of international law in the actions of the Russian submarine,"  it added. 

Philippine officials said the Russian submarine identified itself to a Philippine Navy radio inquiry, saying it is en route home to the Russian eastern city of Vladivostok following joint naval drills with the Malaysia. 

Like other foreign ships, the submarine has the right of “innocent passage,” but triggered concerns from Philippine officials, including President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.,  when it sailed 80 nautical miles or 148 kilometers off the Philippine province of Mindoro.

National Security Council assistant director-general Jonathan Malaya said the submarine was detected when it surfaced due to “weather-related” conditions.

The Philippine military deployed a navy ship and air force planes to shadow the Russian submarine.   

Russian diplomats in Manila maintained the submarine’s movement was legal, noting that it complied with international law and respected “sovereign rights and jurisdiction of the coastal state in this maritime space.” —NB, GMA Integrated News