China Claims Foreign Intelligence Using Marine Animals to Spy on Its Waters
China claims its waters are being spied upon by foreign intelligence agencies using innovative new methods, including the deployment of marine animals equipped with sensors to act as spies.
The Chinese Ministry of State Security has warned of an ‘invisible secret war’ occurring within the nation’s waters. Foreign intelligence agencies are accused of secretly collecting sensitive data using various new spying devices to create underwater maps that threaten China’s national security.
According to reports, China claims one of the espionage techniques used involves large marine animals, including ‘spy fish’ and ‘spy turtles’, which were found carrying several sensors while swimming in Chinese waters. These animals are alleged to collect sensitive environmental data, such as water temperature, salinity, and ocean currents in real-time, which is then transmitted abroad via satellite.
This information was posted on WeChat; however, the Chinese Ministry of State Security’s post did not provide specific details regarding the locations where these animals were found or the identity of those who attached the sensors to them.
The Ministry of State Security also claimed to have discovered buoys placed by foreign marine research institutions equipped with meteorological sensors. Through this method, the institutions are allegedly able to track the acoustic signatures of Chinese submarines in real-time.
The ministry also mentioned a new type of ‘wave glider’ powered by wave motion and solar energy. This technology is claimed to have been deployed by foreign parties to transmit military-related marine environmental data and information regarding vessel activity.
China frequently claims there are espionage attempts in its surrounding waters, including the South China Sea, the East China Sea, and the Taiwan Strait. In 2024, China claimed to have discovered a hidden lighthouse on the seabed designed to guide the transit of foreign submarines.
The Chinese government is offering bonuses ranging from 50,000 yuan to 500,000 yuan (approximately IDR 131 million to IDR 131 billion) to fishermen who successfully discover spying devices in its waters.