The Philippine military revealed that five underwater drones found by local fishermen between 2022 and 2024 were capable of gathering data for potential “underwater warfare,” and at least one had sent signals to mainland China.
The drones were recovered from strategically important waters, including areas near Taiwan, Masbate, and Mindanao, and some bore Chinese markings.
Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad emphasized that the drones were likely used to map underwater terrain for military purposes, including threat detection and weapons testing.
While the origin has not been officially confirmed, analysis suggests a 55–80% likelihood that the drones were deployed by China.
The announcement comes ahead of this year’s large-scale PH-US Balikatan exercises, which will focus on integrated air and missile defense and will be largely held in Northern Luzon due to its strategic value.
Source: PhilNews24 | April 16, 2025
