A 12-foot Chinese underwater drone was hauled up in fishing nets near Gili Trawangan, off the coast of Lombok, Indonesia, revealing Beijing’s ongoing efforts to map underwater channels used by submarines. The torpedo-shaped device, marked with the China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC) logo and Chinese research institute characters, is under analysis by Indonesian military authorities to determine its origin, function, and any data it may hold.
The Lombok Strait, separating Lombok and Bali, is a deep channel connecting Southeast Asia with the seas around Australia, making it a critical maritime route in any potential conflict between China and US allies. Indonesian naval officers and police have inspected the device, noting its rear fins and sensors, while experts emphasize that even civilian drones gathering seabed and acoustic data can have strategic military applications.
This is the latest in a series of similar discoveries, following the Philippines’ recovery of five Chinese underwater drones since 2022. Military officials stress that the devices collect data on underwater sound propagation and other measurements that serve both scientific and military purposes. Rear Admiral Tunggul of the Indonesian navy confirmed a technical assessment is underway to extract information and evaluate the drone’s potential impact on national security and regional maritime intelligence.
