US Ally Makes 'Dream' Submarine Plans To Counter China

The Philippines is weighing a submarine purchase as China increases its presence in the U.S. ally's maritime zone.

Newsweek reached out to the Philippine Department of Defense and the Chinese Foreign Ministry by email out of regular working hours with a request for comment.

Why It Matters

Manila plans to spend $35 billion over the next decade to modernize its military and strengthen security ties with Washington and regional allies like Japan and Australia.

Driving this push is China, which claims over 90 percent of the South China Sea and has in recent years dramatically ramped up its coast guard, naval, and paramilitary presence within the Philippines' internationally recognized exclusive economic zone (EEZ), citing alleged historical rights.

What To Know

General Romeo Brawner Jr., head of the Philippines' Joint Chiefs of Staff, said there are now an average of 286 Chinese vessels tracked within the EEZ each day, up from 190 in 2021, Reuters reported.

Brawner stressed that submarines are needed to augment the country's naval capabilities as it steps up efforts to patrol its waters.

"Hopefully, it's a dream for us, to get at least two submarines," he said. "We are an archipelago, so we have to have this type of capability. Because it's really difficult to defend the entire archipelago without submarines."

The defense chief struck a different tone than that of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s 2023 remark that while the attack boats were "still part of the plan," the military was prioritizing anti-submarine capabilities first.

Brawner did not specify when Manila would seek to purchase the subs or which countries it would approach.

The Philippines has ordered 10 vessels from South Korea's Hyundai heavy Industries, with the first—a corvette—expected to be delivered to the Southeast Asian country's navy this year.

Seoul and Manila boosted defense cooperation to the level of strategic partnership last year.

What People Are Saying

Chester Cabalza, president of the Manila-based International Development and Security Cooperation think tank, told the South China Morning Post: "I hope Manila will pay serious attention to this naval asset (...) While we need more surface naval assets for coast guard and navy, there is room for subs to safeguard the seabeds of the country's archipelagos and exclusive economic zone. Both are needed in achieving military modernization."

What's Next?

Brawner said the Philippines still intends to procure more BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles from India after taking delivery of its first batch last year.

Adding to tensions between the Philippines and its powerful neighbor is the presence of a U.S. Army Mid-Range Capability, or Typhon, missile system, since April.

The Typhon is capable of firing Tomahawk missiles that put much of China's eastern seaboard in range. Manila has stressed that it is on Philippine territory for training purposes. China has condemned the deployment as a "highly dangerous move" and demanded the platform be removed.