Operation "Transparent Ocean": A Strategic Analysis of the Threat Posed by China’s Bionic Fish and the Role of Xiamen University

Abstract and Strategic Context

This strategic technical report analyzes the transformation of the People’s Republic of China’s submarine warfare and intelligence capabilities through the use of biomimetic robotics. The analysis is based on a study conducted by Xiamen University titled “Progress and Analysis of Research on High-Speed Underwater Bionic Robot Fish” and on the context provided by technical documents from the Chinese Academy of Sciences regarding the “Transparent Ocean” strategy. The transition from traditional propeller-driven vehicles to systems that mimic marine biology marks the beginning of a new era in maritime security characterized by near-total acoustic invisibility and distributed autonomous surveillance capabilities that render conventional defense systems obsolete.

Credit: Xiamen University

The Role of Xiamen University in Civil-Military Fusion

The strategic context of this study is of paramount importance, as Xiamen University is classified as a high-risk institution for Western national security, serving as a pillar of China’s Civil-Military Fusion and hosting key national defense laboratories dedicated to acoustic communications and sensor technology for the PLA Navy. The strategic importance of Xiamen University stems from its management of critical defense-related infrastructure, such as the College of Oceanography and Earth Sciences, whose research on marine sensors and seabed mapping has direct military applications in the Taiwan Strait. Beijing’s ability to visualize every physical target at any depth in real time aims to eliminate the stealth of foreign submarines and to constantly monitor critical global infrastructure. In this context, bionic fish act as terminal nodes in a massive intelligence network integrated with artificial intelligence and models such as the Panshi Science Foundation to eliminate tactical uncertainty in military operations.

Engineering Innovations and Stealth Advantages

From an engineering perspective, the Body and/or Caudal Fin bionic propulsion system offers unprecedented stealth advantages, as the oscillatory motion generates minimal acoustic signature and negligible fluid disturbance. Technical data indicate that prototypes such as the iSplash-II have achieved extraordinary speeds of 3.7 meters per second, surpassing even the performance of real fish in terms of pure straight-line speed. Other models, such as the BigBay, have set speed records, reaching peaks of 2.83 meters per second in open basins. The danger of these vehicles lies in their logistical similarity to small aerial drones, as they are small and easily transportable, allowing for discreet deployment from civilian fishing vessels or research ships without alerting sonar monitoring systems. The technical report also highlights how satellite bathymetry technology can map coastal seabeds to identify mines or underwater installations without the need for on-site naval surveys, further reducing the visibility of China’s preparatory operations.

Professor Zhang Yu's team at Xiamen University has developed a biomimetic amphibious robot inspired by the mudskipper.

Deep-Sea Resilience and Advanced Sensory Systems

Resilience in the deep sea is ensured by the development of electrohydraulically driven soft robots that lack a pressure-resistant shell. These devices use an internal dielectric fluid that adaptively balances with seawater pressure and have demonstrated autonomous navigation capabilities down to a depth of approximately 4,070 meters. For data collection, these robots are equipped with an artificial lateral line that mimics the sensory organ of fish, allowing them to detect turbulence and the wakes left by enemy submarines. Energy optimization is another key factor, as models like the Tunabot Flex feature extremely low transport costs by approaching the biological efficiency of tuna and ensuring prolonged operational endurance in patrol areas.

Operational Capabilities and Identified Use Cases

The practical application of these systems is already a reality, with systems developed and deployed in the field. The SPC series is the most concrete example of this operational capability, with the SPC-II model already used for underwater video reconnaissance near Dongshan Island and the SPC-III model having completed 49-kilometer patrols, demonstrating a level of technological maturity ready for long-range military surveillance. These robots are ideal for mine warfare and for the silent inspection of undersea communication cables, where their maneuvering precision allows them to approach fixed installations undetected to collect signals or plan physical tampering.

Systemic Risk for Taiwan and Global Security

For Taiwan, the risk is immediate and very real, as China is deploying swarms of these bionic drones to saturate the Strait and create an impenetrable sensory barrier. The distributed coordination capability known as swarming allows a fleet of bionic fish to act as a single intelligent entity capable of dividing tasks and maintaining formation even if some units are lost. These swarms can saturate strategic transit areas, rendering the ocean transparent and forcing allied submarines to retreat. The geographical proximity of Xiamen University to Taiwan and its specialization in seabed mapping using the ICESat-2 satellite laser further reduce the visibility of China’s preparatory operations, making the adoption of immediate countermeasures by international intelligence agencies imperative.

Conclusions: The Strategic Convergence Between Bionic Innovation and Maritime Dominance

A comparative analysis of engineering advances in bionic research and the intelligence doctrine of the People’s Republic of China reveals a deliberate and systematic convergence toward total control of the underwater domain. While the technical study from Xiamen University provides specifications for bionic vehicles capable of outperforming natural fish in terms of speed and stealth, the strategic report clarifies that these assets are the “arrows” of a broader system aimed at making the ocean a fully transparent space.

The danger of this development lies in moving beyond the logic of comparing individual submarine platforms in favor of a systemic comparison. Technical data on the SPC series and high-frequency models such as iSplash-II should not be viewed as isolated academic achievements, but rather as the provision of low-cost, easily transportable, and concealable stealth sensors, ready to be integrated into the Sky-Land-Sea Observation Network. For Taiwan and its regional allies, this spells the end of superiority based on the invisibility of traditional submarines, as China’s ability to process environmental data via Panshi artificial intelligence can now rely on a widespread network of bionic fish capable of detecting even the slightest fluid dynamic disturbance.

Ultimately, the collaboration between high-risk institutions such as Xiamen University and the PLA Navy’s command centers demonstrates that China has already closed the technological gap in the critical niches of soft robotics and acoustic communications. The bionic fish has evolved from a technological novelty into a mature intelligence asset, capable of monitoring critical global infrastructure and saturating the Taiwan Strait with autonomous swarms, making the defense of maritime borders a challenge that requires immediate technological and doctrinal countermeasures.