Jakarta, April 19 (NationPress) A Chinese underwater surveillance device was discovered last week in a crucial strait located between Indonesia's Lombok and Bali, according to media reports.

The device, measuring 3.7 meters in length, was located by fishermen to the north of Gili Trawangan island within the Lombok Strait and was subsequently retrieved by the Indonesian navy, which transported it to the Mataram naval base on Lombok for detailed analysis, as reported by Australia's ABC news.

Rear Admiral Tunggul, a spokesperson for the Indonesian Navy, stated that a comprehensive investigation would be undertaken to ascertain the device's purpose, stored information, and its origin.

Defence analyst H.I. Sutton identified the apparatus as a Deep-Sea Real-Time Transmission Mooring System developed by the Chinese 710 Research Institute.

This institute specializes in underwater offensive and defensive technologies.

Sutton noted that the device is capable of monitoring various parameters, including current, depth, temperature, and acoustic data.

The report emphasized that the 710 Research Institute is part of the China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC), which has now merged into the China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC).

The device bears the CSIC letters and the corporation's logo.

It is designed to transmit data back to a surface communication buoy while being anchored to the seabed.

Sutton indicated that this device could potentially serve military purposes, raising concerns for Indonesian authorities regarding the discovery of a Chinese sensor buoy in this region.

A representative from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs commented that they had no specific details on the incident but reiterated that China has consistently conducted marine scientific research following international laws.

"According to international norms, it is not unusual for marine research equipment to drift into another nation's territorial waters due to malfunctions or other factors," the spokesperson told ABC. "There is no reason for excessive speculation or concern."

Collin Koh, a senior fellow at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore and a maritime security expert, stated that the system's array of sensors and its communicative capabilities make it suitable for underwater warfare.

He also pointed out that submarines could be detected through the device's acoustic sensors, although the signals must be transmitted to a shore station for processing.

"This is often the challenge we face with dual-use technologies that pertain to marine scientific research and data collection," he added.

The Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) expressed concern over the device's discovery, suggesting it indicates a "level of aggressive behavior" from China in preparation for potential military activities in the future.