‘Spy turtles’ and ‘spy fish’ being used to monitor Chinese waters, Beijing claims
China says foreign agencies are using sensor-equipped animals and other devices to collect marine data near its waters.
Intelligence analysis by GPT-5.4 Mini
China’s state security ministry claims foreign espionage agencies are using sensor-equipped animals, buoys and wave gliders to map Chinese waters and track military-related activity. The post frames it as a quiet underwater intelligence battle in highly contested seas.
China says some foreign spies may be using turtles, fish, buoys and floating gadgets like tiny underwater messengers to watch its seas. It is like hiding listening devices in a swimming pool, except the pool is the ocean and the stakes are national security.
Analysis
What China is alleging
China’s ministry of state security says foreign intelligence agencies are using unusual methods to monitor its waters, including large marine animals fitted with sensors. In a WeChat post, the ministry described an “invisible secret war” in nearby seas and said the goal was to collect sensitive marine data and build underwater maps that could threaten national security.
The methods it described
The ministry claimed that “spy turtles” and “spy fish” had been found with sensors attached. According to the post, those animals were gathering information such as water temperature, salinity and ocean currents, then sending it overseas by satellite. It also said an overseas marine research institute had deployed buoys with meteorological sensors that could track the acoustic signatures of Chinese submarines in real time.
The ministry further pointed to “wave gliders,” which it said were powered by wave motion and solar energy and used to transmit military-related maritime environmental data and vessel activity.
Wider context
The article says China regularly makes espionage claims in the South China Sea, East China Sea and Taiwan Strait, areas that are among the most militarily sensitive and heavily contested in the world. It also notes that similar accusations are not unique to China: in 2023, British intelligence said Russia used trained dolphins at its Sevastopol fleet base to counter enemy divers.
The report adds that Chinese media have said fishers can receive financial rewards for turning in suspected spying devices. That suggests Beijing wants civilians involved in spotting equipment it believes belongs to foreign actors.
The piece is mainly a record of what China says it found and how it interprets the threat. It does not independently verify the claims or identify the alleged foreign agencies.
Key points
- China’s security ministry says foreign agencies are using sensor-equipped animals to gather data in Chinese waters.
- The ministry also claims buoys and wave gliders are being used to detect submarines and transmit maritime information.
- It describes the activity as an “invisible secret war” in contested seas around China.
- The article notes that similar accusations about animals being used for military purposes have appeared elsewhere before.
If China’s claims are taken as true, they point to deeper mistrust and more security friction in already disputed waters. That could make surveillance, fishing, research and submarine activity more politically sensitive and increase the chance of confrontation.
