China’s Network Of Underwater Sensors In Indian & Pacific Oceans Could Neutralise U.S. Submarine Stealth

China has launched a massive effort to map the seabed and monitor conditions in critical maritime environments across the Indian, Arctic and the Pacific Oceans.

Analysts believe that while several Chinese vessels claim to be conducting surveys and collecting samples for oceanographic research, they might actually be gathering data vital for submarine warfare against the U.S and its allies.

Chinese ships have also been operating in strategic waters near Guam, Taiwan and the Philippines.

They were also seen near U.S military bases in the region, such as Hawaii and close to routes leading to the Arctic, where Beijing aims to become ‘a polar great power by 2030.

One such ship, called the Dong Fang Hong 3, belonging to the Ocean University of China, surveyed areas near Taiwan and the Indian Ocean for two years, 2024 and 2025.

In 2024, the ship reportedly monitored the ocean sensors deployed close to the Japanese coastline and even came back to the same location after a few months, raising suspicions.

In 2025, it performed an extensive survey mission between Indonesia and Sri Lanka, covering one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints, the Malacca Strait.

The University stated that the ship was simply collecting information for climate research and conducting surveys to study the topography.

Reuters had reported that eight other Chinese ships were involved in seabed mapping.

This information is important to know how sonar waves travel in certain underwater conditions, amidst specific terrain, which affects how submarines can avoid detection.

Factors like water temperature, salinity, ocean currents and underwater terrain affect how sound waves travel and behave.

Moreover, success in submarine warfare is dependent on the extensive knowledge of the terrain and the environmental conditions mentioned above, which affect sonar performance.

China is also building a vast network of underwater sensors, buoys and monitoring systems in strategic waterways.

The government’s focus was on the South China Sea, but now they have deployed these systems near Japan, the Pacific and the Indian Ocean near India and Sri Lanka.

Beijing’s interest in the maritime domain comes from its rapidly expanding naval capabilities, including its modern submarine fleet, one of the biggest in the world.

The country is also focusing on building more nuclear submarines and allocating a budget for the same.

Analysts believe that China might be engaging in these activities since they’re paranoid about getting boxed in to the First Island Chain; territories controlled by U.S allies spanning from Japan through Taiwan to Southeast Asia.

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