China’s Ministry of State Security has accused foreign intelligence agencies of deploying ‘spy turtles’ and ‘spy fish’ in its territorial waters to collect sensitive maritime data. In a statement published on WeChat on Friday, the ministry claimed that these marine animals were equipped with sensors capable of transmitting information such as water temperature, salinity, and ocean currents to foreign satellites. The ministry described the activity as part of an ‘invisible secret war’ at sea but did not specify which countries or organizations were involved or where the animals were found.

The statement also said that Chinese authorities had detected floating buoys and wave-powered ‘wave gliders’ allegedly installed by a foreign marine research institution. These devices were reportedly fitted with weather and acoustic sensors that could monitor the acoustic signatures of Chinese submarines and transmit military-use environmental data abroad. China has long accused foreign powers of espionage and surveillance in the South China Sea, East China Sea, and Taiwan Strait, areas known for ongoing strategic tensions.

According to Chinese media, fishermen who discover or recover suspicious surveillance devices in national waters can receive rewards ranging from 50,000 to 500,000 yuan.