China Intercepts US Submarine Probe in South China Sea

China recently intercepted a submarine probe dropped by a United States military aircraft into the South China Sea. The probe was detected by China's coastguard, who inspected it and confirmed its potential use for detecting and countering submarine signals. The incident highlights rising geopolitical tensions.

China recently intercepted a submarine probe dropped by a United States military aircraft into the South China Sea, said Yuyuan Tantian, a social media account affiliated with Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, on Wednesday. The U.S. military aircraft were found hovering over the waters of the South China Sea and continuously dropped "unidentified items" downwards, Yuyuan Tantian added.

China's coastguard salvaged and checked an item, a video released on the account showed. It said the interception took place recently. "The probe can be used to detect Chinese submarine signals and to counter signals from submarines underwater," text on the video said, quoting an expert.