Philippine Navy on High Alert: Protecting Undersea Cables from Foreign Espionage!

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Navy is currently investigating methods to keep an eye on underwater cables, aiming to safeguard these crucial infrastructures against acts of sabotage and espionage.

The Philippines’ seabed is traversed by numerous submarine cables that link Southeast Asia with the United States, India, and Hong Kong. These cables are essential as they carry significant amounts of data critical for economic, trade, and communication purposes.

Naval forces throughout Southeast Asia are concerned about the frequency of cable-cutting incidents in regions like the Taiwan Strait, the Red Sea, and the Baltic Sea.

According to Nestor Gerico, deputy director general of the Philippines’ National Security Council, the number of incidents reported is too high to be coincidental or accidental. Gerico emphasized, “These incidents are deliberate and could be considered acts of aggression.”

Top-level discussions on how to respond are already taking place between the government and military leaders, as stated by Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad, the Navy inspector general. He noted that the Navy is primarily responsible for the protection of this infrastructure.

Trinidad mentioned that surveillance efforts would involve detailed mapping of the seabed and monitoring environmental changes to help identify areas of interest. “It’s still early days, but we’re actively engaging in joint exercises with other navies, particularly our defense treaty ally, the United States,” he added.

In 2024, the Philippines enhanced its maritime surveillance capabilities by acquiring four MANTAS T-12 unmanned surface vessels from the United States. These small, electric, submersible drones are equipped with advanced sensors including cameras, sonars, lidars, and modems, enabling them to patrol underwater territories effectively.

Beyond the potential physical destruction of seabed communication lines, the Philippine Navy is also alert to the risk of data breaches through hacking or tapping into these cables.

Trinidad admitted that while incidents have been few, submarine cable tapping has occurred in the Mediterranean Sea and could potentially take place in Philippine waters.

Investigations into underwater drones found along vital maritime routes have linked them to possible espionage activities in the region, including the discovery of suspected sleeper agents, according to Trinidad. He highlighted, “There are methods for tapping into and listening to the data transmitted through undersea cables.”

Local legislators have reported a large network of sleeper agents from China in the country, including members of the People’s Liberation Army. However, these claims have been dismissed by the Chinese Embassy in Manila as “baseless speculation and accusation.”

Unclaimed Drones

Following a strategic shift towards bolstering external defenses, the Philippines has implemented various measures to protect its critical infrastructure. This includes banning Chinese social media apps among military personnel as part of broader efforts to combat espionage.

Currently, legal proceedings are underway involving 13 Chinese nationals and six others, apprehended on charges of espionage. These individuals were caught photographing sensitive military installations and American naval vessels in Subic Bay.

The maritime domain continues to face similar threats, with several drones featuring Chinese markings having been found by local fishermen in recent years.

Reports of these drones date back five years, but suspicions intensified in 2023 following drone sightings around the Kalayaan Island Group, a significant maritime area controlled by the Philippines in the South China Sea.

Drones have also been retrieved from the Philippine Sea, a region increasingly frequented by Chinese research vessels and warships, including the PLA Navy’s Liaoning aircraft carrier.

Forensic analysis has shown that one such drone was transmitting data to a private company in China, suggesting dual-use purposes that might also support military operations.

Rommel Jude Ong, a professor at Ateneo de Manila University and a former vice commander of the Philippine Navy, commented, “If these drones were genuinely for scientific research, the operators would have claimed them following military reports. The fact that no one has claimed them suggests they were deployed for covert military purposes.”

With an increase in surveillance and monitoring, the Navy is also expanding its surface fleet and missile capabilities. Although details are limited, there are plans to enhance anti-drone technologies and acquire both manned and unmanned systems for subsea monitoring, as stated by Trinidad.