China’s Ministry of State Security says foreign intelligence agencies are using “spy turtles” and “spy fish” to gather sensitive marine information near China’s coastline. In posts published on WeChat, the ministry describes what it calls an “invisible secret war” unfolding in Chinese waters and says foreign entities attach tracking and monitoring devices to sea creatures. It alleges the devices help collect data about coastal defences and produce underwater maps.
Several outlets report that the claims include not only marine animals fitted with sensors, but also other technology such as buoys, wave gliders, and shipborne electronic equipment used to monitor the area and gather intelligence. The ministry presents these activities as a threat to national security.
The coverage also emphasizes the unusual framing—“spy turtles” and “spy fish”—while noting that the allegations are attributed to the Chinese ministry and are not independently confirmed in the reports summarized here. Overall, the different outlets present the same core assertion: Beijing warns that foreign agencies are using sensor-equipped marine tools and animals to study China’s coastal and maritime environment.
