China Accuses Foreign Nations of Using Marine Animals for Underwater Spying
Finn's Take· TL;DR- China claims foreign agents deployed sensor-equipped animals and buoys in its waters to spy on naval defenses and submarine movements.
- Government offering rewards up to 500,000 yuan to fishers reporting suspicious devices; fears collected data reveals coastal weaknesses.
- Historical precedent exists—Cold War superpowers and Russia used trained marine mammals militarily, though independent verification of China's claims lacking.
Beijing Warns of "Invisible Secret War" in Its Waters
China's Ministry of State Security made an extraordinary claim on June 12, alleging that foreign intelligence agencies are using biological surveillance platforms, including turtles and fish armed with tiny sensors, to secretly map coastal defenses in contested waters around the South China Sea, East China Sea, and Taiwan Strait . The ministry described this as part of an "invisible secret war" unfolding beneath the seas surrounding China .
The clandestine creatures were found "swimming in a specific area, collecting sensitive data about the marine environment such as water temperature, salinity and ocean current, transmitting it overseas via satellite" . However, the ministry did not disclose any details regarding the whereabouts of animals like where they had been found and who had equipped them .
Sophisticated Surveillance Network Beyond Marine Life
The alleged espionage operation extends far beyond weaponized sea creatures. The ministry mentioned a new type of "wave gliders" powered by solar and wave motions to transmit military-related maritime environmental data and vessel activity information . China's ministry discovered buoys equipped with meteorological sensors capable of tracking the acoustic signatures of Chinese submarines in real time .
In 2024, China also found hidden ocean-floor light-houses designed to guide foreign submarines and "pre-set the field for battle" . Some devices are even said to contain self-destruct mechanisms programmed to activate after completing their missions, making them more difficult to recover and examine .
Financial Incentives and Strategic Implications
To combat this alleged threat, the Chinese government offers rewards ranging from 50,000 to 500,000 yuan to fishers who uncover and report spying devices in the country's waters . The ministry urged researchers, fishermen and vessel owners to remain vigilant and "report suspicious devices" .
The data collected would be used to create "underwater maps" that can "identify weak points in China's coastal defences, posing a serious threat to China's national security" . Information on warships and submarines provides insight into Chinese naval activity, which can be used against them in military strategy .
Historical Context and Future Implications
Animal-based military surveillance isn't pure fiction—UK intelligence reported Russia using trained dolphins at Sevastopol in 2023, with the animals "likely intended to counter enemy divers" . During the Cold War, both the United States and Soviet Union deployed marine mammals for military purposes.
These latest allegations follow Beijing's established pattern of claiming foreign underwater devices and "seabed lighthouses" in nearby waters without independent confirmation. The line between legitimate marine research and intelligence gathering gets murkier when any sensor can serve dual purposes . As maritime tensions continue to escalate in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait, these accusations signal China's growing concern about underwater surveillance capabilities that could compromise its naval operations in strategically vital waters.