A suspected Chinese submarine drone was recovered by fishermen six miles off the coast of San Pascual in Masbate province, Philippines, earlier this week. The uncrewed underwater vehicle, about six feet long and torpedo-shaped, was marked “HY-119” and is believed to be a Chinese underwater navigation and communication device.
Chinese submarine drone found by fishermen along the shores of Masbate island, well within the PH mainland.
It’s identified as an ISR drone given its markings.
If were to guess this was dropped by the PRC “research ships” pic.twitter.com/cMW3QIKBlL
— Talonski (@Talon_Haribon) December 31, 2024
The Philippine National Police (PNP) took custody of the drone before turning it over to the Philippine Navy for further analysis.
Police officials stated that the drone, though unarmed, has features that could be used for surveillance, including an antenna and a viewing mechanism. Authorities warned of “potential national security implications” associated with its discovery.
Authorities in the Philippines are examining what appears to be a Chinese ocean glider-type unmanned underwater vehicle that a fisherman ‘caught’ earlier this week.
At least three similar, if not identical undersea drones were found in various locations around Indonesia between… pic.twitter.com/f2g6x9xEgp
— Geo Power Rivalries (@GeoPowerRivalry) January 2, 2025
The incident occurs amid ongoing tensions between the Philippines and China over territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Recent confrontations have included clashes between Chinese coast guard vessels and Philippine patrol ships.
This is not the first discovery of such devices in the region. Between 2019 and 2020, similar Chinese ocean gliders were found in Indonesian waters. While often labeled as research tools, these devices are known to have potential military uses, including reconnaissance.
The Philippine Navy is investigating the drone to determine its purpose and implications for regional security.
