By Alimat Aliyeva

Chinese security authorities have discovered foreign surveillance and espionage devices in the adjacent marine areas. This was announced by the Ministry of State Security (MGB) of the People's Republic of China, Azernews reports.

"The work of state security agencies [The PRC] has shown that foreign espionage and intelligence services use all possible means to enhance intelligence and monitoring of our country's marine waters. They [foreign organizations] have taken a series of measures to collect intelligence and steal technology," the material published on the agency's page on the WeChat social network says. "In accordance with the law, [China's] national security agencies have seized a number of special technical devices designed to collect data on the situation at sea."

The report clarifies that the construction of a powerful oceanic power at an accelerated pace is "an inevitable choice for modernization with Chinese specifics." As it clarifies, the PRC is at a key stage of the relevant process, which is associated with various risks and challenges.

Some of the detected spy devices, which were informed by the MGB, were located directly on the sea surface. Others were placed closer to the bottom and used by foreign structures as "secret outposts" collecting information about hydrography and navigation. Thus, as noted, individual States received data that can play an important role in the event of a military conflict.
Among the identified foreign intelligence equipment, the ministry mentioned underwater "beacons" designed to indicate the direction of submarines from other countries. Thus, China has discovered traces of an "invasion of national waters," which poses a "serious threat to state security."

"Protecting and enhancing security in deep-sea waters is a promising strategic task. Taking into account the serious and difficult situation related to the secret struggle in the relevant field, as well as the real threat posed by foreign espionage and intelligence services, the national security agencies, under the firm leadership of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, will comprehensively implement the holistic concept, firmly defend the sovereignty, security and development interests of the People's Republic of China," the MGB material emphasizes.