The Chinese Ministry of State Security (MSS) has launched a public campaign alleging that foreign intelligence agencies are using marine animals and autonomous underwater drones to conduct espionage in Chinese waters. According to an official statement posted by the MSS on its WeChat channel in June 2024, these "invisible" operations utilize sensors attached to marine life and specialized ocean-gliding technology to map coastal defenses and monitor naval movements.
Why is Beijing targeting marine espionage?
The Chinese government claims that foreign actors are deploying "covert" technology to bypass traditional surveillance. According to the state-affiliated outlet Fenghuang Wang, the Ministry of State Security alleges that intelligence services attach tracking and data-collection devices to sea turtles and fish. These sensors reportedly record water temperature, salinity, and current patterns—data points critical for submarine navigation and acoustic mapping. By using biological hosts, the MSS claims foreign agencies hope to mask their signals as natural ocean activity.
The MSS is framing this as part of a broader, ongoing "secret war." To incentivize domestic surveillance, the Chinese government has established a reward system. Under new guidelines, citizens who report or discover foreign espionage equipment, such as rogue maritime drones or unauthorized sensors, can receive cash rewards ranging from 50,000 to 500,000 yuan.
What technology is allegedly being used?
Beyond the use of marine animals, the Ministry of State Security has identified specific hardware it claims is linked to foreign intelligence gathering. The Ministry highlighted the presence of "Wave Gliders," a type of autonomous maritime drone developed by the American firm Liquid Robotics.
According to the MSS, these gliders are configured to transmit military-grade intelligence regarding the activity of Chinese naval vessels. The Ministry also cited the discovery of advanced weather-monitoring buoys in Chinese waters, which it contends are equipped with acoustic sensors designed to track the "sound signatures" of Chinese submarines. These signatures are essential for modern anti-submarine warfare, as they allow navies to identify specific vessels by the unique noise emitted by their propulsion systems.
Historical context of animal-based surveillance
The use of animals for intelligence purposes is not a new concept, though its efficacy remains a subject of debate among security analysts. During the Cold War, the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) experimented with various programs, including "Acoustic Kitty," which attempted to use domestic cats as mobile listening devices. Similarly, the U.S. Navy conducted research into training dolphins for mine detection and underwater security, a field that has seen various iterations in multiple nations.
More recently, international attention turned to the Arctic in 2019, when a beluga whale was found in Norwegian waters wearing a harness labeled "Equipment St. Petersburg." While Russian authorities did not confirm a state program, the animal—dubbed "Hvaldimir" by locals—became a symbol of the suspicions surrounding state-led animal espionage.
Tensions and the broader intelligence landscape
These accusations emerge during a period of heightened geopolitical friction between Beijing and Western governments. The rhetoric from the Ministry of State Security reflects a strategy of framing the domestic environment as being under constant threat from foreign intelligence.
The timing of these claims coincides with several high-profile espionage cases:
- In Germany: On May 20, 2024, German authorities arrested a couple in Munich on suspicion of spying for Chinese intelligence services.
- In China: On June 12, 2024, reports confirmed the arrest of a U.S. citizen for alleged espionage activities.
While Beijing has not explicitly named a single country as the perpetrator behind the "spy animals," the focus on American-made technology like the Wave Gliders points to an escalating technological rivalry. The move to offer financial rewards for the discovery of such devices serves as both a defensive security measure and a tool to heighten public awareness of the ongoing intelligence contest in the Indo-Pacific region.