The cutting-edge acoustic sensors – some of which have a listening range of more than 1,000km – are being used for scientific research such as studying earthquakes, typhoons and whales, according to the Chinese government.

But security experts say the sensors can also track the movement of submarines in the South China Sea and intercept underwater signals between the submarines and their command base.

The high-end surveillance devices have been in operation since 2016, though the information was released by the Chinese Academy of Sciences only this month.

 

Read the whole story from South China Morning Post.

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