Gov’t told to strengthen protection for underwater infrastructure in WPS

MANILA, Philippines—A think tank has called on the national government to strengthen its security measures for subsea communication lines amid rising concerns over cable disruption in the West Philippine Sea.

Stratbase Institute issued the call in a statement after highlighting the Philippines’ strategic location and its central role in safeguarding global communications at a forum on “Enhancing Underwater Domain Resilience through Strengthened Philippine–Italy Cooperation.”

READ: Expert notes China’s strategic leverage in SCS subsea networks

It is due to this that Stratbase president Victor Andres “Dindo” Manhit said that protecting subsea infrastructure is now an urgent priority in maintaining regional stability and a rules-based international order for the country.

“The Philippine Seas serve as a home to submarine cables that connect major economic players such as the United States, the European Union, and Japan, among others,” Manhit said. 

“Any disruptions or instability in the West Philippine Sea not only jeopardize the country’s connectivity but also hinder the seamless flow of information and trade, impeding economic development and cooperation in the region,” he added.

Subsea cables refer to communication lines that carry the world’s data and communications across oceans, carrying all kinds of data between continents.

According to Manhit, recent international reports of subsea cable-cutting incidents and the discovery of underwater drones with Chinese markings further act as urgent reminders of the need to strengthen undersea domain awareness.

“The Philippines needs to develop the capability to monitor, secure, and protect its underwater infrastructure at the soonest possible time,” he emphasized.

Meanwhile, Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad, in the same forum, acknowledged that securing undersea cables is a developing area for the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

“Current efforts right now focus on policy discussions between the concerned government agencies,” Trinidad said. 

“The specific task of securing will fall on the Armed Forces and the Philippine Navy in coordination with the Coast Guard,” he added.

The Italian National Hub for Underwater’s head of external relations, Capt. Francesco Ruggiero, for his part, cited the capabilities of their agency in the innovation and monitoring of underwater infrastructure, which could serve as a model for maritime and underwater resilience.

“We are developing projects with an underwater infrastructure network and smart cables—cables for communication that also function as sensors,” Ruggiero said. 

“We aim to achieve full operational capability in the underwater dimension through the use of underwater multi-mission vehicles.”

With this, Italian shipbuilding company Fincantieri area manager for sales Engr. Aurora Buzzo emphasized the company’s readiness to work with the Philippines in advancing maritime and underwater capabilities.

“The Indo-Pacific and the large Mediterranean Sea are really very similar,” Buzzo shared. 

“Fincantieri really would like to be a strategic industrial partner for the Philippines to protect our ocean… We have national security and technological innovation to protect,” he added.

Stratbase said that as Italy and the Philippines strengthen cooperation in maritime security and defense, both nations affirm that protecting the underwater domain is not only a strategic imperative but also an opportunity for partnership, innovation, and shared prosperity. /das/abc