Jakarta, April 20: Recent media reports indicate that a significant maritime route between Indonesia’s Lombok and Bali has revealed a Chinese undersea monitoring device.
According to Australia’s ABC News, the 3.7-meter-long device was found by fishermen north of Gili Trawangan Island in the Lombok Strait. The Indonesian Navy later transported it to the Lombok Mataram Naval Base for further investigation.
Rear Admiral Tunggul, a spokesperson for the Indonesian Navy, stated that a thorough examination of the device will be conducted to determine its purpose, the data it contains, and its origin.
Defense analyst H.I. Sutton identified the device as a “Deep-Sea Real-Time Transmission Mooring System,” developed by China’s 710 Research Institute, which specializes in underwater attack and defense technologies.
Sutton explained that the device monitors various parameters, including ocean currents, depth, temperature, and information related to sound and targets.
The report also noted that the 710 Research Institute was previously part of the China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC), which has now merged into the China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC). The device bears the CSIC’s markings and logo.
Designed to transmit data via a communication buoy at the surface, the device remains anchored at depth. Sutton warned that its potential military applications could raise concerns for Indonesian authorities regarding the presence of such a Chinese sensor buoy in the area.
A spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry stated they lacked specific information on the matter but emphasized that China conducts marine research in accordance with international law. The spokesperson added, “It is common for such research equipment to inadvertently enter the maritime zones of other countries due to technical malfunctions or other reasons. There is no need for undue suspicion.”
Colin Koh, a maritime security expert from Singapore, noted that the sensors and data transmission capabilities of this system make it suitable for “undersea warfare.” He mentioned that it could be used to detect submarines, although the signals would need to be processed at a shore-based station.
According to the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), the discovery of this device is concerning and suggests that China may be taking aggressive steps with military activities in mind for the future.
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