On the sidelines of the APEC summit in Gyeongju, South Korea, Hanwha Ocean executives met with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to discuss supporting the Philippine Navy's submarine program. The proposal includes building a submarine base, a maintenance center, and training for naval personnel. This aligns with the Philippines' military modernization amid West Philippine Sea tensions.
On November 1, 2025, in Gyeongju, South Korea, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. met with Hanwha Ocean executives on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Meeting, according to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO). Hanwha expressed interest in supporting the Philippine Navy's submarine program through the construction of a submarine base, establishment of a local maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) center, and training of Filipino naval operators, maintainers, and commanders using advanced simulators and systems.
The executives outlined plans for deploying KSS-III PN submarines equipped with modern sonar, combat systems, and lithium-ion batteries for extended underwater endurance. This includes technology transfer and partnerships with local industries to enhance the Philippines' self-reliant defense capabilities, the PCO stated.
The initiative forms part of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) modernization program, which aims to acquire at least two diesel-electric submarines with a budget ranging from P80 billion to P110 billion, per the Philippine News Agency. In February, AFP Chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. described submarines as a 'dream' for defending the archipelago against China's aggression in the West Philippine Sea, noting that 'it’s really difficult to defend that entire archipelago without submarines.'
Meanwhile, Marcos expressed hope that the Task Force Philippines, launched with the US at the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting Plus in Malaysia, would ease tensions in the West Philippine Sea. 'I hope it will lower the tensions... Tensions will only heighten if someone tried something new,' Marcos told reporters. The task force aims to organize the two countries' troops into a more cohesive unit to protect freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, and it is not a new development that would escalate tensions.