China Retrieves Alleged U.S. Submarine Detector in South China Sea

China recently intercepted a submarine detector allegedly dropped by the United States in the South China Sea.

A 40-second video posted on Wednesday by Yuyuan Tantian, an arm of China Media Group, showed a U.S. Navy aircraft repeatedly dropping "unidentified electronic items" as it hovered over the South China Sea.

China's coastguard salvaged one of the items in waters adjacent to Ren'ai Jiao in the South China Sea and identified it as a submarine detector.

"The device can be used to detect the signal of a Chinese submarine and to counter signals from submarines underwater," marine expert Yang Xiao was quoted by Yuyuan Tantian as saying.

Noise from the device's sonar can also interfere with the echolocation systems of marine creatures like dolphins, disorienting them and even stranding them. China has claimed.

The development comes less than a fortnight after the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy confirmed it had shifted its submarine manufacturing focus towards nuclear-powered vessels, prioritizing them over conventional diesel-electric propulsion.

Submarine operations are often kept secret by navies due to their stealth needs, resulting in limited public knowledge. However, some public exposure can serve as a deterrent, according to Chinese media citing an expert. While China's submarine technologies once lagged behind, recent breakthroughs indicate progress.

Media reports indicate that the PLA Navy currently operates Type 039 series conventional submarines, Type 09III nuclear-powered attack submarines, and Type 09IV nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines, with more advanced models in various stages of development.