The study analyses China's integration of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), unmanned surface vessels (USVs), AI-enabled sensing networks, and strategic seabed infrastructure into a unified smart ocean ecosystem. Central to this architecture is the Undersea Great Wall (UGW), which supports persistent surveillance, anti-submarine warfare (ASW), and grey-zone operations through real-time underwater data collection and processing. The research highlights the IOR as a critical strategic theatre where China's expanding undersea capabilities and maritime infrastructure have significant implications for regional security and underwater domain awareness, while also acknowledging ongoing technical challenges such as acoustic communication, energy endurance, biofouling, and corrosion.
“”China’s emerging ocean technologies represent a qualitative shift in undersea competition. The integration of AUVs, seabed sensor networks, and AI-enabled data processing into a smart ocean architecture, anchored by the UGW and supported by String-of-Pearls logistics, creates a persistent surveillance and deterrence layer extending from coastal waters to the open ocean.
Research Fellow