China claims 'spy sea turtles' are mapping its coastline
China's Ministry of State Security alleges foreign spy agencies are using sea turtles and fish equipped with sensors to collect ocean data and identify weak points in coastal defenses.
China has accused foreign governments of using sea turtles to create underwater maps of its coastline in an attempt to steal sensitive data. In a social media post, Beijing claimed international spy agencies are deploying "new types of espionage equipment" attached to turtles and fish. The Ministry of State Security stated that "relatively large marine animals with sensors attached have been discovered in certain waters of China," in a section titled "spy turtles, spy fish." These creatures were found swimming in a specific area, collecting sensitive data about the marine environment — including water temperature, salinity, and ocean currents — and transmitting it overseas via satellite.
While China did not name any specific country or agency, the ministry believes the data could be used to "identify weak points in China's coastal defences, posing a serious threat to China's national security." The ministry urged proper security checks on equipment received from abroad and called on fishers to report any unusual buoys or devices found at sea.
China has traded espionage accusations with multiple governments in recent years. Last month, Beijing denounced convictions of two men in the United Kingdom for spying on Hong Kong dissidents as a "political farce," accusing the country of "erroneous practices." In May, German police arrested a married couple on charges of spying for China, accusing them of seeking information on advanced technology with military uses. In February, French authorities charged four people, including two Chinese nationals, with suspected interception of sensitive military data, according to Agence France-Presse. That same month, Greek military authorities arrested a colonel on suspicion of providing classified and top secret information to China.
