Chinese research vessels loiter near Pacific undersea cables more than any other nation, report finds

A CSIS analysis of 200 research vessels from 47 countries found Chinese ships spend a statistically significant larger share of time near critical undersea infrastructure. Xiang Yang Hong fleet vessels operated near three cables linking the US with Australia, Indonesia, Singapore and Guam between July and October 2024, moving in a lawnmower pattern typical of seafloor mapping.

• CSIS compared the behavior of 200 research vessels from 47 nations
• Xiang Yang Hong ships worked near three US-Asia cables in 2024
• Lawnmower-pattern movement suggests seafloor mapping surveys
• Collected data could aid sabotage or submarine operations