China’s top security agency says foreign intelligence services are using “spy turtles” and “spy fish” to gather information in waters near the country’s coast. The claim adds an unusual new layer to the long-running contest over maritime surveillance.
In a post on WeChat, the Ministry of State Security said “an unseen covert war of espionage is currently unfolding” in the seas around China. It said overseas spy agencies have been “continuously collecting and stealing sensitive maritime data through various new types of espionage equipment.”
What China says is being used
The ministry listed several methods it says have been deployed by foreign intelligence agencies. Those include “spy turtles and spy fish,” detection buoys, a new type of wave glider, and equipment on ships.
It also said that in some Chinese waters, “relatively large living marine animals have been fitted with sensors to swim in specific areas, collect ocean data, and transmit it to overseas satellites.” The post did not identify where the animals were found or which countries were allegedly involved.
Why the alleged spying matters
According to the ministry, foreign agencies have spent years trying to study Chinese naval activity, build “underwater maps” of the country’s maritime coastline, and track offshore oil and gas deposits. It urged researchers, fishermen, and vessel owners to stay alert and report suspicious devices.
China has previously rewarded anglers for turning in alleged maritime spy devices. Some have received up to 500,000 yuan, or about $73,000, for helping authorities, CBS News’ partner network BBC News reported.
Animals, surveillance, and military suspicion
The claim is not the first time marine animals have been linked to espionage or military use. In 2019, a beluga whale appeared on the Norwegian coast wearing a harness that seemed to have a mount for a small camera, prompting speculation that it had been trained to spy for the Russian navy.
Moscow never issued an official reaction. In 2023, the British military said Russia appeared to be training dolphins for combat to counter Ukrainian forces, saying the animals were “likely intended to counter enemy divers.”