China warns of 'spy turtles' and 'spy fish' deployed to collect sensitive marine data

The accusations

The Ministry of State Security of China issued a statement on 12 June 2026 via WeChat warning that foreign intelligence agencies are deploying innovative espionage techniques in Chinese waters, including marine animals carrying sensors. The ministry described the activities as a clandestine campaign, claiming that an "invisible secret war" is underway.

An invisible secret war is quietly playing out in the seas around China.

The ministry stated that the new spy equipment constitutes a "serious threat to national security", capable of producing underwater maps and exposing weaknesses in coastal defence. No specific foreign countries or services were identified in the statement.

Animals as data collectors

Chinese authorities reported discovering marine animals such as turtles and fish that had been fitted with sensors. These creatures "were spotted swimming toward precise areas", collecting data on water temperature, salinity, and ocean currents in real time. The information was then transmitted overseas via satellite.

Marine animals of relatively large size, equipped with sensors, have been discovered in some Chinese waters.

The ministry stated that the data gathered could be used to map the underwater environment, allowing hostile actors to identify vulnerabilities in China's coastal defences.

Buoys, gliders, and ship-based devices

In addition to the "spy turtles" and "spy fish", the ministry listed other surveillance tools it claimed to have detected. A spherical buoy, allegedly deployed by an overseas marine research institute, was said to carry high-precision acoustic and meteorological sensors capable of capturing the acoustic signatures of Chinese submarines in real time.

Another device was a wave glider powered by solar energy and wave motion. The ministry claimed it had been used by foreign actors to transmit "military-related maritime environmental data and information on vessel activities" via radio and satellite communications.

The ministry also cited electronic equipment installed aboard cargo ships. Marketed as a maritime service device, it allegedly monitored port operations in real time and combined meteorological data with navigation coordinates to build a "maritime surveillance network".

Context and international background

While China’s statement did not name specific agencies, it comes amid persistent mutual accusations of espionage between China and Western states. The article referenced a recent warning from the Five Eyes intelligence alliance—Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States—that Chinese agents had been posing as online recruiters to extract sensitive information.

Previous claims involving marine espionage have precedent. In 2023, British intelligence reported that Russia was deploying trained bottlenose dolphins to protect its Sevastopol naval base in occupied Crimea. In 2024, China said it had identified "lighthouses" hidden on the ocean floor designed to guide foreign submarines and potentially "pre-set the field for battle".

Public vigilance urged

The ministry called for stricter controls on foreign-sourced maritime equipment and urged Chinese citizens, especially fishermen and shipowners, to report any unusual buoys or devices they encounter at sea. It warned vessel operators to be wary of offers of equipment from unfamiliar companies, reinforcing the message that maritime security is a shared responsibility.