Beijing, China – Chinese authorities have announced that foreign intelligence agencies have used turtles and fish equipped with sensors to collect sensitive marine data in its waters.
The authorities described these operations as a threat to national security.
The Chinese Ministry of State Security stated that some of these animals were fitted
with devices capable of recording information related to water temperature, salinity, and ocean currents.
This information is then transmitted abroad via satellite.
How are data collected?
According to a statement from China authorities, these activities also include the use of sophisticated buoys and equipment mounted on cargo ships.
This equipment is capable of monitoring port activity and collecting precise data on the marine environment.
The ministry added that this information can later be used to create underwater maps.
These maps also help identify weaknesses in coastal defenses.
Security warnings and increased surveillance
Beijing warned that collecting such data poses a direct threat to national security.
It called for stricter inspections of equipment arriving from abroad
and urged fishermen to report any suspicious devices or buoys found in the waters.
These accusations come amid escalating accusations between China and Western countries regarding mutual espionage activities.
The current period is also witnessing increased scrutiny of cybersecurity and intelligence issues,
and growing concerns about the use of unconventional technologies for information gathering.
