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Device found near Bali and Lombok identified as Chinese undersea monitoring system
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Fri 17 AprFriday 17 April
The device was brought ashore at Gili Trawangan in the Lombok Strait after being discovered by a fisherman. (AFP)
It has been identified as a Chinese undersea monitoring system designed to be moored to an anchor on the sea floor while sending data home via communication buoys deployed to the surface.
abc.net.au/news/chinese-undersea-monitoring-system-lombok-strait/106569388
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A large torpedo-shaped device discovered near an island in a strategically important strait between Bali and Lombok has been identified by defence analysts as a Chinese undersea monitoring system.
However, Beijing has dismissed concerns, saying, "there is no need for excessive interpretation or suspicion".
A fisherman found the 3.7-metre-long object north of Gili Trawangan island in the Lombok Strait last week, according to Indonesian state news agency Antara.
The Indonesian Navy took the device to the Mataram naval base on Lombok for further investigation.
"The navy will carry out an in-depth examination to identify the device, including its origin, purpose and stored data," said navy spokesperson Rear Admiral Tunggul.
"The institute focuses on underwater attack and defence," Mr Sutton wrote.
The system is designed to be moored to an anchor on the sea floor while sending data home via communication buoys deployed to the surface.
The device is reportedly capable of sensing undersea conditions and nearby vessels. (AFP)
Sensors monitor things like temperature, depth, current and "sound and target information", according to Mr Sutton's analysis.
Such systems are not unique to China with similar capabilities used by other countries, including the United States, Japan and India.
"It is likely concerning to Indonesian authorities that a Chinese sensor buoy has been found in the area," Mr Sutton wrote, while contending that they could have a military use.
The device featured the letters CSIC and the corporation's logo.
The ABC's emails to the to CSSC bounced back and calls went unanswered.
A Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson said it did not have specific details on the matter.
However, the spokesperson said China had always conducted marine scientific research activities and used related equipment in accordance with international law.
"Based on international practice, it is not unusual for marine research equipment to drift into the territorial waters of other countries due to malfunctions or other reasons," they told the ABC.
"There is no need for excessive interpretation or suspicion."
The device features the acronym CSIC and logo of the China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation. (Supplied: rri.co.id/North Lombok Police)
He said its acoustic sensor could be used to detect submarines but the signal would need to be transmitted back to a shore station for processing.
However, he noted the type of data the system would collect had both military and civilian uses.
"This is often the problem that we face when it comes to these sort of dual-use technologies that concern marine scientific research and data collection," said Dr Koh, a senior fellow at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore.
He said China had long been undertaking sea-floor mapping research in the region, often in collaboration with South-East Asian states.
"So therefore it's actually not so strange if you encounter research and survey vessels from China passing through South-East Asian waters," he told the ABC.
Device found near Bali and Lombok identified as Chinese undersea monitoring system
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Device found near Bali and Lombok identified as Chinese undersea monitoring system
By Will Jackson and Hellena SouisaFri 17 AprFriday 17 April
efence and National SecurityThe device was brought ashore at Gili Trawangan in the Lombok Strait after being discovered by a fisherman. (AFP)
In short:
A large torpedo-shaped device was found last week by a fisherman near an island in the Lombok Strait, a strategically important sea lane linking Australia to the South China Sea.It has been identified as a Chinese undersea monitoring system designed to be moored to an anchor on the sea floor while sending data home via communication buoys deployed to the surface.
What's next?
Beijing has dismissed concerns while Jakarta says examination of the device is continuing.abc.net.au/news/chinese-undersea-monitoring-system-lombok-strait/106569388
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Baca dalam bahasa Indonesia
A large torpedo-shaped device discovered near an island in a strategically important strait between Bali and Lombok has been identified by defence analysts as a Chinese undersea monitoring system.
However, Beijing has dismissed concerns, saying, "there is no need for excessive interpretation or suspicion".
A fisherman found the 3.7-metre-long object north of Gili Trawangan island in the Lombok Strait last week, according to Indonesian state news agency Antara.
The Indonesian Navy took the device to the Mataram naval base on Lombok for further investigation.
"The navy will carry out an in-depth examination to identify the device, including its origin, purpose and stored data," said navy spokesperson Rear Admiral Tunggul.
'Chinese sensor buoy'
The device was identified by maritime defence analyst HI Sutton as a Deep-Sea Real-Time Transmission Mooring System developed by the Chinese 710 Research Institute."The institute focuses on underwater attack and defence," Mr Sutton wrote.
The system is designed to be moored to an anchor on the sea floor while sending data home via communication buoys deployed to the surface.
The device is reportedly capable of sensing undersea conditions and nearby vessels. (AFP)
Sensors monitor things like temperature, depth, current and "sound and target information", according to Mr Sutton's analysis.
Such systems are not unique to China with similar capabilities used by other countries, including the United States, Japan and India.
"It is likely concerning to Indonesian authorities that a Chinese sensor buoy has been found in the area," Mr Sutton wrote, while contending that they could have a military use.
The 710 Research Institute was part of the Chinese state-owned China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC), now merged into the China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC).
The device featured the letters CSIC and the corporation's logo.
The ABC's emails to the to CSSC bounced back and calls went unanswered.
A Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson said it did not have specific details on the matter.
However, the spokesperson said China had always conducted marine scientific research activities and used related equipment in accordance with international law.
"Based on international practice, it is not unusual for marine research equipment to drift into the territorial waters of other countries due to malfunctions or other reasons," they told the ABC.
"There is no need for excessive interpretation or suspicion."
The device features the acronym CSIC and logo of the China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation. (Supplied: rri.co.id/North Lombok Police)
Potentially 'dual-use'
Collin Koh, an expert in maritime security and naval affairs, said the system's array of sensors combined with its ability to communicate back home made it "undersea warfare capable".He said its acoustic sensor could be used to detect submarines but the signal would need to be transmitted back to a shore station for processing.
However, he noted the type of data the system would collect had both military and civilian uses.
"This is often the problem that we face when it comes to these sort of dual-use technologies that concern marine scientific research and data collection," said Dr Koh, a senior fellow at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore.
He said China had long been undertaking sea-floor mapping research in the region, often in collaboration with South-East Asian states.
"So therefore it's actually not so strange if you encounter research and survey vessels from China passing through South-East Asian waters," he told the ABC.
