China’s Ministry of State Security issued a warning Thursday that “an unseen covert war of espionage is quietly unfolding” as foreign agencies enlist new surveillance technology: spy turtles.
The Ministry said large marine animals, including turtles and fish, were found in the Chinese seas equipped with sensors collecting sensitive data.
Intelligence acquired through these sensors “will seriously endanger China’s national security, military security, and economic security,” the ministry warned in a post on the Chinese platform WeChat.
China warns against several ‘new types of espionage equipment’
Spy turtles and fish: The ministry said live animals were found swimming in a specific area to collect environmental data, including water temperature, density, salinity and ocean currents. Data obtained by these animals was being transmitted in real time to overseas intelligence agencies via satellite, the warning explained.
Detection buoys: “A spherical ocean monitory buoy” was discovered with a weather kit, anchor chain and listening sensor, “which can collect surrounding sound wave data and acoustic signature information of Chinese submarines in real time.”
Surface vehicles: A “new type of wave glider” was also found. Powered by solar energy and equipped with position and radio communication devices, it has the capability to collect and “transmit military-related marine environment and ship activity information to overseas regions.”
Ship electronic equipment: The ministry said foreign companies installed “navigation services” on merchant and cargo ships to captures port dynamics and create a “maritime surveillance network” of the Chinese sea area.
Threats posed to Chinese security on multiple levels
The ministry warned that the collection of sensitive environmental and military data poses serious threats to the country’s military, national and economic security.
Information on warships and submarines provides insight into Chinese naval activity, which can be used against them in military strategy.
Environmental data, such as ocean current dynamics, seabed topography and water temperature, can be used to create “underwater maps” that “identify weak points in China’s near-shore defenses.”
Knowledge of China’s offshore gas and oil deposits “could not only lead to the leakage of China’s marine resources secrets, but also potentially trigger disputes over resources development rights,” the ministry cautions.
Financial rewards of up to 500,000 yuan have been offered to fishermen who uncover spying devices, The Guardian reports.
The ministry did not provide specifics on where the animals were found or where they were from, only referencing “foreign intelligence agencies” in general and “a certain sea area of China.”
Accusations of foreign espionage are not new
This is not the first time allegations of espionage have been traded between world governments.
A Beluga whale was found on the Norwegian coast in 2019 wearing a small camera. The whale was speculated to be a trained spy from Russia. Moscow did not issue an official response.
In 2023, Russia used trained dolphins to “counter enemy divers,” according to British intelligence.
More recently, in early June, Western security alliances warned Chinese spies were posing as job recruiters, pressuring candidates to reveal private information, the Hong Kong Free Press reports.