Below the surface: From vulnerability to resilience in the underwater domain

Some underwater drones with Chinese markings were recently discovered in various parts of the Philippines. Last year, a Russian attack submarine passing through Philippine waters was detected. No less than President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. described this discovery as "very concerning." And then, in other parts of the world, there have been reports of subsea cable-cutting incidents.

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These developments are cause for concern, primarily because they are not immediately visible. Not only do they occur within the maritime domain, far from major centers of communication, but they also happen beneath the ocean's surface, to evade detection of clandestine operations.

Secondly, this is an area in which the Philippines has yet to develop expertise and mastery.

As an archipelago, the Philippines is a maritime nation, blessed with boundless maritime assets that can be harnessed to improve the quality of life of our people. We deeply rely on the sea for various aspects of our nation's life: food, trade, energy, and communication. And given the recent persistent and deliberate incursions into our exclusive economic zone, not only our economic security but also our territorial integrity is being attacked.

All these expose a critical vulnerability for the Philippines: our limited underwater domain awareness, as well as our capability to defend and protect our underwater assets and territory, are still in the nascent stage.

Consider this: our seas serve as home to submarine cables. They connect major economic players such as the United States, the European Union, and Japan. If there happen to be disruptions or instability, the seamless flow of information and trade through our underwater territories would be seriously compromised.