Key facts
- China's Ministry of State Security claims foreign agencies are using 'spy animals' like turtles and fish for espionage.
- These animals are allegedly equipped with sensors to collect real-time marine environment data.
- The collected data is reportedly transmitted overseas via satellite.
- The ministry also cited the use of buoys and wave gliders for monitoring submarines and transmitting military data.
- China offers financial incentives to fishermen for reporting spying devices found in its waters.
China's Ministry of State Security has asserted that foreign intelligence agencies are employing novel methods, including the use of marine animals fitted with sensors, to conduct espionage in the nation's waters. In a WeChat post, the ministry detailed claims of 'spy turtles' and 'spy fish' collecting real-time data on water temperature, salinity, and currents, transmitting it internationally via satellite. This alleged activity is described as part of an 'invisible secret war' posing a significant threat to national security.
The ministry also reported discovering buoys equipped with meteorological sensors, deployed by an overseas marine research institute, capable of tracking the acoustic signatures of Chinese submarines. Additionally, a new type of 'wave glider,' powered by wave motion and solar energy, was cited as being used by foreign actors to transmit military-related maritime environmental data and information on vessel movements.