China’s Ministry of State Security Reveals Retrieval of Spying Devices in the South China Sea
Beijing’s Ongoing Pursuit of Maritime Dominance
China’s ministry of state security has announced the retrieval of spying devices hidden on the ocean surface and in the depths of the sea, including "lighthouses" that can guide foreign submarines. This revelation comes amidst a growing arms race between China and its regional neighbors, involving underwater structures that can monitor marine information and data.
Recent Tensions in the South China Sea
Recent sea and air confrontations between China and the Philippines over competing territorial claims in the South China Sea have raised the risk of an escalation that could eventually involve the US, which is treaty-bound to defend the Philippines if it is attacked. China has also staged war games around Taiwan, simulating attacks and deployment of ships and aircraft, drawing condemnation from the democratically governed island’s government and the US.
Underwater Lighthouses and Secret Agents
According to the ministry, some of the retrieved devices act as "secret agents," monitoring the situation in China’s territorial waters in real-time. Others act as underwater "lighthouses," guiding foreign submarines that have invaded China’s waters. These devices were hidden on the ocean floor, sending back information that could "pre-set the field for battle."
China’s Claims in the South China Sea
China claims sovereignty over nearly all the South China Sea, including areas claimed by Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. Beijing has said it will never renounce the use of force over Taiwan, which rejects China’s sovereignty claims and says only the island’s people can decide their future.
The Submarine Arms Race
A submarine arms race is intensifying between China and the US and its allies, with Beijing on track to have a new generation of nuclear-powered and -armed submarines operational by the end of the decade. "Facing a serious and complicated covert struggle for deep-sea security and the real threat of foreign espionage and intelligence agencies… (the ministry) will firmly defend China’s sovereignty, security and development interests and contribute to the construction of a strong maritime nation," the ministry said.
FAQs
- What is China’s claim in the South China Sea?
China claims sovereignty over nearly all the South China Sea, including areas claimed by Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. - What is the role of underwater "lighthouses" in the South China Sea?
Underwater "lighthouses" act as guides for foreign submarines that have invaded China’s waters, indicating the direction for their transit. They can also monitor the situation in China’s territorial waters in real-time. - What is the current state of the submarine arms race between China and the US?
A submarine arms race is intensifying between China and the US and its allies, with Beijing on track to have a new generation of nuclear-powered and -armed submarines operational by the end of the decade.