Technical-Strategic Report on the Risks Posed by the People's Republic of China's Maritime Intelligence Network and Seabed Activities

An analysis of a series of technical documents published by the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2026 outlines China’s transformation into a global maritime power through mastery of cutting-edge technology.

The cornerstone of this strategy is the intelligence system known as Precision Marine Environmental Assurance, a comprehensive end-to-end architecture that integrates observation, forecasting, enforcement, and assessment to ensure national security and the protection of maritime interests. Beijing’s ultimate goal is to achieve a “Transparent Ocean”—that is, the ability to visualize in real time the state, processes, changes, and, above all, physical targets at every depth and in every oceanic scenario. This ability to make the ocean transparent aims to eliminate the invisibility of foreign submarines and to constantly monitor critical global infrastructure.

The research vessel “Science” - Credit Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

The data collection infrastructure is based on the Integrated Sky-Land-Sea-Reef Observation Network, which provides multidimensional monitoring of critical areas such as the South China Sea, the western Pacific, the eastern Indian Ocean, and the Arctic. Within this system, the South China Sea Seabed Observation Network, completed in 2025, represents the world’s largest deep-sea monitoring facility, capable of continuous, all-weather operation.

To project power into extreme depths and polar routes, China deploys the Fendouzhe and Shenhai Yongshi submersibles alongside in-situ experimental stations, boasting a continuous human submersion capability beneath dense Arctic ice that it claims is unique globally. Navigation in these areas is supported by the Arctic Intelligent Route Planning System, which integrates satellite and radar data to ensure the safety of both underwater and surface vessels.

The processing of environmental data for tactical purposes is handled by AI-powered computing engines that combine the laws of ocean physics with deep learning to eliminate uncertainty in military operations. The computational core is the Panshi Science Foundation Model, released in 2025, which processes data for specialized models such as the Lanya Ocean Model, capable of providing global forecasts of temperature, salinity, and currents for a seven-day period with a resolution of 1/12°. Three-dimensional mapping of deep-sea acoustic environments is handled by the Haijing Woliu model, designed to reconstruct 3D vortices and thermal structures—an essential element for optimizing the performance of Chinese sonar and detecting foreign stealth objects. These activities are supported by the CAS-ESS Earth System Simulator, operational since 2022, which performs simulations of air-sea interaction with a resolution of up to 1 km.

The operational functionality of this system transforms scientific variables into high-precision dual-use tools. Satellite-Derived Bathymetry technology uses the ICESat-2 laser sensor and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data to map coastal seabeds between 0 and 50 meters with an accuracy of 1 km. This capability allows for the identification of navigation corridors, mines, or fixed underwater installations such as communication cables without the need for on-site naval surveys. The seabed network ensures data transmission through an integrated wired and wireless underwater communication system, guaranteeing a secure, real-time information flow from deep-sea sensors to command centers. Coordination of this strategy is centralized at the Bureau of Strategic High-tech Development of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), with operational contributions from the South China Sea Institute of Oceanology (SCSIO) in Guangzhou and the Institute of Oceanology (IOCAS) in Qingdao.

When combined with the testimony provided by U.S. experts and senior officers in March 2026, this highlights how these capabilities pose imminent systemic risks. Rear Admiral Mike Brookes (Director of Naval Intelligence and Commander of the Office of Naval Intelligence) confirmed that China is shifting from a logic of confrontation between individual platforms to one of systems confrontation, integrating airborne, surface, and submarine sensors into a system of systems for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aimed at controlling key maritime areas and forcing enemy submarines to retreat. A primary risk, highlighted by Michael C. Horowitz (Director of Perry World House), is the large-scale proliferation of autonomous unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), which operate as long-range “arrows” to saturate strategic transit areas such as the Taiwan Strait. Horowitz also warned that the use of quantum sensors mounted on drones could render current acoustic concealment methods obsolete, leading to a breakdown in deterrence based on nuclear-powered submarines (SSBNs).

The vulnerability of critical infrastructure was further highlighted by Vice Admiral Richard Seif (Commander of the U.S. Navy’s Underwater Forces), who described China’s efforts to create an “Underwater Great Wall”—an integrated system of fixed and mobile sensors designed to erode the U.S. stealth advantage in maritime approach zones. Admiral Mike Studeman (former Director of Intelligence for the Indo-Pacific) noted that China is using its influence within the International Seabed Authority (ISA) to extend control over supply chains for critical minerals, linking its naval strategy to economic dominance of deep-sea resources through seabed warfare.

Although Chinese intelligence acknowledges limitations in internal data sharing, the urgency highlighted by U.S. officials suggests that the West’s technological lead is rapidly narrowing due to the scale and speed of Chinese investment in the underwater domain.