A Chinese undersea monitoring system was discovered near an island in the Lombok Strait, a crucial waterway between Indonesia’s Lombok and Bali islands. The Indonesian navy retrieved the 3.7-meter-long device from the waters north of Gili Trawangan island and transported it to the Mataram naval base on Lombok for further examination, as reported by Australia’s ABC news. Indonesian Navy spokesperson Rear Admiral Tunggul stated that a detailed analysis of the device will be carried out to determine its function, stored data, and origin.
Defence analyst H.I. Sutton identified the device as a Deep-Sea Real-Time Transmission Mooring System developed by the Chinese 710 Research Institute, which specializes in underwater attack and defense technologies. The monitoring system is equipped to track various parameters such as current, depth, temperature, as well as sound and target information. The 710 Research Institute, previously under the Chinese state-owned China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC), now operates as part of the China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC).
The monitoring system, bearing the letters CSIC and the corporation’s logo, is designed to transmit data through a communication buoy deployed to the surface while being anchored to the seabed. While acknowledging potential military applications, Sutton expressed Indonesian authorities’ likely concerns over the presence of a Chinese sensor buoy in the region. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson mentioned that China conducts marine research activities within the bounds of international law, emphasizing that equipment malfunctions could lead to such devices drifting into foreign waters.
Collin Koh, a senior fellow at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore specializing in maritime security and naval affairs, described the system as “undersea warfare capable” due to its sensor array and communication capabilities. Koh highlighted the device’s ability to detect submarines through acoustic sensors, necessitating signal processing at a shore station. The Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) expressed unease over the discovery, indicating China’s aggressive stance in anticipation of potential military activities in the area.
