Chinese research ships, linked to military entities, are secretly mapping deep-sea regions across major oceans, boosting China’s naval and submarine warfare capabilities.

Chinese research vessels, many linked to state and military entities, are conducting extensive deep-sea surveys across the Pacific, Indian, and Arctic Oceans, mapping seabed topography and ocean conditions near strategic locations like Guam, the Philippines, and the Malacca Strait. Despite holding five of 31 International Seabed Authority exploration contracts, these ships spent only about 6% of their time in designated mining zones over five years, with some disabling their tracking systems to avoid detection. Experts say the data collected supports China’s military-civilian fusion strategy, enhancing submarine warfare capabilities such as stealth, navigation, and sensor deployment. The effort, involving over 40 vessels and hundreds of sensors, reflects a broader push for blue-water naval power, raising concerns among U.S. officials and scientists about strategic implications and environmental risks.