Beijing: China’s Ministry of State Security has alleged that foreign intelligence agencies are using marine animals fitted with electronic sensors to conduct surveillance in waters claimed by China, warning of what it described as a growing covert intelligence battle in strategically sensitive maritime regions.
The ministry disclosed the claims through its official WeChat account, stating that foreign actors are allegedly deploying turtles, large fish and other marine species equipped with tracking devices and communication systems in areas including the South China Sea, the East China Sea and the Taiwan Strait.
According to the ministry, the attached sensors are capable of collecting real-time data on sea temperature, salinity and ocean currents as the animals move through the water. Chinese authorities claim the information can be transmitted via satellite to overseas control centres and potentially used to identify vulnerabilities in China’s coastal defence network and military activities.
The ministry also alleged that foreign countries are deploying a range of unmanned maritime surveillance technologies, including wave-powered gliders, floating sensor buoys and other underwater monitoring systems. These devices are said to gather environmental information as well as data related to ship and submarine movements.
China did not identify any specific country behind the alleged surveillance operations and did not disclose where any of the suspected devices or animals were discovered.
As part of its response, Beijing has called on fishermen and coastal communities to assist authorities by reporting suspicious foreign equipment or marine animals carrying electronic devices. Chinese authorities have announced rewards of up to 500,000 yuan for information leading to the recovery of such equipment.
The ministry said the use of marine animals for military or intelligence purposes is not unprecedented, pointing to earlier reports that Russia deployed specially trained bottlenose dolphins to protect the naval base at Sevastopol in Crimea.