Philippines Discovers Suspected Chinese Underwater Drone in Its Waters

On October 3, 2025, the Philippine coast guard reported the discovery of a suspected Chinese-made unmanned underwater vehicle in the country's waters. The device was found off the coast of Linapacan, a municipality in the western province of Palawan, after being recovered by local fishermen.

The discovery has raised concerns over "illegal scientific research" by foreign drones in the Southeast Asian nation's maritime zone. The Chinese characters on the label suggest the device was manufactured in Dongguan, a major industrial city in China's Pearl River Delta.

Early analysis of the 12-foot-long underwater drone revealed it was equipped with sensors measuring temperature, depth, and seawater salinity, indicating it was likely used for oceanographic profiling. This incident is the latest in a series of similar discoveries in Philippine waters since July 2022, three of which have been directly linked to China.

The Philippine coast guard has emphasized that conducting marine research without permission is prohibited within the country's exclusive economic zone. This latest finding highlights the ongoing tensions between the Philippines and China over their competing maritime claims in the region.

Under the leadership of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the Philippines has stepped up patrols and documentation of Chinese activities in an effort to draw more international attention to the matter. The country continues to push back against China's sweeping claims to the South China Sea, which overlap with those of several other nations in the region.