A submarine drone suspected to be from China was recovered in waters off the central Philippines, police said yesterday, warning of “potential national security implications”.Three fishermen found the drone on Monday around nine kilometres off the coast of San Pascual in Masbate province, a police report said. The Philippines and China have for years clashed over maritime rights in the South China Sea as well as possession of reefs and islets. China claims almost the entire sea, brushing off rival claims from other countries and an international ruling that its assertion has no legal basis.The yellow drone marked “HY-119” was found floating at sea before being turned over to authorities, regional police director Andre Dizon said. It was about two metres long, and torpedo-shaped with fins.“Based on our open-source research in the Internet… HY-119 refers to a Chinese underwater navigation and communication system,” Dizon said.
