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President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of the Philippines has approved the third phase of a military modernization program, which notably includes the procurement of the country's first submarines.
The decision to approve the submarine purchase is part of a broader strategy to bolster maritime sovereignty in the highly contested the South China Sea.
Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Roy Trinidad, announced on Thursday that this latest phase marks a strategic pivot from internal to external defense capabilities. The third phase of the modernization plan carries an estimated cost of 2 trillion pesos (approximately $35.62 billion). It is expected to be rolled out over several years.
Amid rising tensions and frequent stand-offs in the South China Sea, where the Philippines and China have overlapping sovereignty claims, the move is seen as a critical step in strengthening the country's defense posture.
The urgency of the upgrade was underscored by an incident in December when a Chinese vessel reportedly rammed a ship carrying Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Romeo Branwer Jr.
The Navy's wish-list for equipment is extensive, according to Trinidad. While the exact number of submarines intended for acquisition remains unspecified, Trinidad affirmed that the Philippines aims to acquire "definitely more than one."
The procurement of at least two submarines is part of the new Horizon 3 phase of the Armed Forces of the Philippines' modernization program, as stated by Branwer in a media interview, Philippine News Agency reported in October 2023.
Several international players have expressed interest in supplying the Philippines with these strategic assets. Among them are France, Spain, South Korea and Italy.
France, in particular, has reiterated its commitment to supporting the Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program (AFPMP), including the development of a submarine force, the Philippine News Agency reported in September 2023.
The Department of National Defense (DND) of the Philippines reported that France has offered assistance in this endeavor.
"Emphasizing France's role as a partner in the Indo-Pacific region, Ambassador-designate Fontanel reiterated France's offer to support the AFPMP, including (French defense manufacturer) Naval Group's readiness to assist in building a Philippine submarine force," DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said.
The French defense manufacturer Naval Group, known for its Scorpene diesel-electric submarines, is one of the preferred suppliers for this project. Philippine naval and defense officials had previously evaluated the Scorpene model in 2019.
Neighboring Southeast Asian countries like Indonesia and Vietnam have already established their own submarine programs.
About the writer
Aadil Brar is a reporter for Newsweek based in Taipei, Taiwan. He covers international security, U.S.-China relations, and East Asian ... Read more