A report indicates that the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) fishery survey vessel, the “Song Hang Hao,” was found “intentionally lingering” near critical infrastructure in public waters. The report suggests that the vessel’s activities are more likely related to seabed mapping or surveillance, rather than its claimed “fishing” operations.
According to a report by maritime analysis company Windward published in Newsweek on Wednesday, May 21st, the tracking data analysis of the “Song Hang Hao” in April revealed that its navigation routes were mainly concentrated above and near the Pacific undersea cables in the eastern waters of Japan and the Philippines. These undersea cables carry about 99% of the global data flow, making them crucial for global communications.
The abnormal activities of the “Song Hang Hao” have raised widespread concerns, with many speculating that the vessel may be collecting data related to the undersea cables, posing a potential threat to global communication network security.
The ship’s tracking data analysis report emphasized significant differences between the navigation routes of the “Song Hang Hao” and those of typical fishing vessels. While regular fishing vessels often have “natural and unstable” routes, the navigation pattern of the “Song Hang Hao” appears unusual. Windward utilizes artificial intelligence technology to track global maritime behavior.
It is well known that the CCP frequently utilizes both military and civilian sectors to advance its political and economic objectives. Chinese vessels have previously been accused of engaging in unauthorized intelligence gathering or marine research in foreign waters, actions that violate international law.
Particularly alarming is the vessel’s navigation near undersea cables, sparking high tensions among relevant countries and regions. In the past two years, Chinese ships have been suspected multiple times of damaging or severing undersea cables. For example, in February of this year, Taiwanese authorities detained crew members of a Chinese ship suspected of damaging cables. In May, the captain of a Chinese cargo ship, accused of allegedly anchoring damage to the undersea natural gas pipeline in the Baltic Sea two years ago, appeared in a Hong Kong court.
Windward also listed other “warning signals” of the “Song Hang Hao,” including inconsistencies between the International Maritime Organization (IMO) number transmitted through the Automatic Identification System (AIS) and the registration number, unclear ownership records, and a moderate risk score for illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
The IMO number is a unique identifier assigned by the International Maritime Organization to each commercial ship, serving as the ship’s “ID number” for tracking and managing its identity, registration, and activities. The inconsistency in the IMO number of the “Song Hang Hao” may indicate AIS spoofing or data manipulation, concealing its true identity, conduct often associated with illegal activities such as sanctions evasion, smuggling, or illegal fishing.
In early April, when the “Song Hang Hao” entered the waters of the Sulu Sea within the Philippines’ archipelago, it drew the attention of the Philippine Coast Guard. Media in both China and the Philippines reported the incident differently.
At the time, Jay Tarriela, a spokesperson for the Philippine Coast Guard, stated to the media that the “Song Hang Hao” responded to Filipino radio calls by claiming it was heading to the Indian Ocean for “fishing.”
However, observers pointed out that the vessel’s navigation route was extremely circuitous and inconsistent with its stated purpose. An official from the Philippine National Security Council stated that they would continue monitoring the vessel to “ensure it follows its course and does not engage in marine survey activities within Philippine waters.”
According to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, foreign ships are allowed innocent passage in archipelagic waters but are prohibited from conducting any survey activities.
Beijing denies that the vessel is engaged in any other purposes.
The “Song Hang Hao” was launched in 2017 and is China’s first long-distance fishery survey vessel, operated by Shanghai Ocean University and equipped with laboratories for biological, meteorological, and hydrographic research.
Ray Powell, the head of the SeaLight maritime analysis organization affiliated with Stanford University, posted on social media, “Remember China’s Song Hang Hao survey ship? … This ship told the Philippine Coast Guard it was heading to the Indian Ocean for ‘fishing.’ Now, Windward’s analysis of its activities indicates it prefers undersea cables.”
The CCP’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs did not respond to Newsweek’s request for comments.