Fishermen have found a Chinese underwater spy drone in the waters off the Philippines

Philippine police said on Thursday that they had found a suspected Chinese unmanned submarine in the waters off the central Philippines, warning of “potential repercussions on national security.”

A police report said three fishermen found the drone on Monday about six miles off the coast of San Pascual in Masbate province.

There have been disputes between the Philippines and China for years over maritime rights in the region South China Sea As well as having coral reefs and small islands.

China claims sovereignty over almost the entire sea, ignoring competing claims from other countries and international rulings that its assertion has no legal basis.

Regional police director Andre Dizon told AFP that the yellow drone marked “HY-119” was found floating in the sea before it was handed over to the authorities.

It was about six feet long, torpedo-shaped, and had fins.

“Based on our open source online research… HY-119 refers to China’s underwater navigation and communications system,” Dizon said.

He added: “It has an antenna and an eye that can be used for vision. Based on our research, it can be used for surveillance and reconnaissance.”

Dizon said the drone was not armed, but the police report listed “potential national security implications” as important to its recovery.

Dizon added that the police handed it over to the Philippine Navy on Tuesday.

The Philippine Navy and the Chinese Embassy in Manila have not yet responded to AFP’s request for comment.

Tensions and military confrontations have escalated in the South China Sea in recent months. In December, it attacked Chinese coast guard ships backed by naval vessels Powerful water cannons were fired They blocked and sideswiped a Philippine patrol ship. US Ambassador to the Philippines Mary Kay Carlson She accused Beijing in a social media post Endangering “lives” by disrupting a Philippine naval operation.

Also last month, the Philippine military deployed a Navy ship and Air Force aircraft to monitor a Russian submarine that passed through the South China Sea. One official said the Navy was surprised to see the ship because it was an A-class ship “A very unique submarine.”

The United States has warned about this Obligated to defend the Philippines If Philippine forces are attacked in the South China Sea.