China is spending more time loitering near undersea cables in the Pacific Ocean than any other nation, according to a report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a U.S.-based think tank in Washington, DC. The analysis compared the behavior of 200 research vessels from 47 different nations, including the U.S. and Russia, and found that Chinese vessels spent a "statistically significant larger share of time" near critical infrastructure.

The analysis, reported by Indo-Pacific Defense Forum, notes that Chinese activity was particularly suspicious in this regard. It notes that the "persistent and disproportionate activity" means that China "may be leveraging its research fleet for underwater data collection that may aid... analysis of terrain for sabotage or submarine operations."

Civilian research vessels provide a unique cover for states looking for "plausible deniability" for their research gathering activities. The report mentions the activity of a ship from the Xiang Yang Hong research fleet which, between July and October 2024, spent time near three undersea cables that connected the U.S. with Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, Guam and others.

The ships move in a "lawnmower" pattern which, it notes, is associated with surveying to create accurate seafloor maps. While the ships themselves aren't part of the PRC's navy, the data they collect could be used to serve China in future conflicts.

These "gray zone research activities" continue in an era of Chinese conflict with its neighbors as it asserts territorial claims in the South China Sea against states like the Philippines and Vietnam, not to mention its claims over Taiwan, which Beijing considers a breakaway province.

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