MANILA, Philippines — The Russian Embassy in Manila clarified that the presence of Ufa 490, a Russian attack submarine, in the West Philippine Sea last week was not in violation of any international law or the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
“There are no signs of violation of international law in the actions of the Russian submarine. 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),” the embassy said in a statement sent to media on Wednesday.
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“The only condition is respect for the sovereign rights and jurisdiction of the coastal state in this maritime space (with regard to exploration, development and conservation of natural resources; creation and use of artificial islands, installations and structures; marine scientific research; protection and preservation of the marine environment),” it added, quoting Unclos.
It further pointed out that the Russian vessel also did not violate the country’s EEZ.
No bad intentions
“On the contrary, movement on the surface at low speed without entering the territorial sea of the Philippines, as well as maintaining radio contact with the coastal state [indicate] that she has no unscrupulous intentions,” the embassy said.
The rare sighting of the Russian Kilo II-class electric submarine was reported by the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Visayas Command to the Philippine Navy after the underwater vessel surfaced west of Cape Calavite in Occidental Mindoro on Nov. 28.
The Philippine Navy immediately sent a patrol aircraft and a frigate to keep track of the submarine’s movements. The BRP Jose Rizal shadowed Ufa 490’s entire passage through the country’s EEZ up until the weekend. A Russian rescue tug and a support vessel accompanied the submarine.
During an initial radio inquiry, the submarine said it was headed for Vladivostok, Russia, from Malaysia where it had taken part in an exercise with the Royal Malaysian Navy.
The AFP earlier said it was surprised and alarmed by the sighting of the submarine. Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad, Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, said in a press briefing on Tuesday that while other submarines had conducted port calls in the Philippines, “these had all the diplomatic clearances and arrangements prior to their arrival.”