Beijing intercepts alleged US deployment of submarine detectors in South China Sea: State media

By Yasin Gungor

ISTANBUL (AA) - China intercepted a submarine detector dropped by the US in the South China Sea, Chinese state media reported Wednesday.

The incident involved a US Navy aircraft that allegedly dropped unidentified electronic items repeatedly in the South China Sea, according to Yuyuan Tantian, a media account linked to Chinese state broadcaster, CCTV.

The Chinese Coast Guard recovered one of the items and identified it as a submarine detector.

"The device can be used to detect the signal of a Chinese submarine and counter signals from submarines underwater," the Global Times newspaper reported.

It noted that sonar noise from the device could disrupt the echolocation systems of marine animals such as dolphins, potentially disorienting them and causing strandings.

The US has not commented.