Amid increasing activities by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in sensitive waters, Indonesian fishermen recently retrieved a torpedo-shaped object bearing simplified Chinese characters near the Lombok Strait. Upon preliminary examination, the device suspected to be an underwater drone is believed to have been manufactured by state-owned Chinese shipbuilding and defense enterprises. The incident has sparked high concerns among the Indonesian military.
According to reports from the Indonesian National News Agency (Antara News), the Indonesian government announced on Tuesday (April 7) the discovery of a suspected underwater drone device in waters north of Gili Trawangan in the northwest of Lombok Island. The Indonesian Navy has launched an investigation into the incident.
Multiple media reports indicate that on April 6, an Indonesian fisherman fishing near the entrance of the Lombok Strait, a strategic waterway, discovered a strange unidentified object and immediately brought it ashore, later reporting it to the authorities.
The Indonesian police dispatched special forces and explosives disposal teams to the scene for inspection and only lifted the blockade after confirming that the device contained no explosives or radioactive materials.
Upon initial examination, the cylindrical device measures approximately 3.7 meters in length, with a diameter of 70 centimeters and is equipped with tail fins. Of note, it bears the logo of CSIC and other simplified Chinese characters.
Public data indicates that CSIC stands for China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation, a major state-owned shipbuilding and defense technology developer in the CCP.
Indonesian Navy spokesperson, Rear Admiral Tunggul, stated that an expert team will conduct a detailed technical assessment of the device to determine its origin, function, and any potential data it may contain.
The Indonesian Navy reiterated its commitment to upholding maritime sovereignty and security and preventing any unauthorized activities. The Navy warned that unauthorized entities are not allowed to use underwater devices in Indonesian waters, emphasizing that such actions could pose potential threats to national security.
The device has been transferred to a naval outpost on Gili Air Island in Indonesia and was later relocated to the Mataram Naval Base for further investigation on the same day.
The Lombok Strait, situated between the Pacific and Indian Oceans, is one of the few deepwater passages suitable for submarine operations, drawing close attention from the United States and Australia.
The discovery of the Chinese underwater drone near the Lombok Strait has raised concerns among the Indonesian government and the international community, fearing that the CCP may be conducting intelligence-gathering operations in this strategically significant waterway.