China unveils BG-5 ‘Golden Dragon Fish’ robot for underwater surveillance

China in a recent breakthrough unveiled a first-of-its-kind BG-5 Golden Dragon Fish at the 2026 China International Fair for Trade in Services in Beijing’s Shougang Park.

Modelled after the golden arowana, the robotic fish is a biomimetic underwater robot designed by Boyagongdao Marine Technology Group.

Instead of a traditional propeller, it features a flexible, multi-joint including seven-segment tail for wave-like propulsion, reaching 0.6 meters per second at 5-meter depths while navigating autonomously.

Speaking about technical specifications, the autonomous fish operates at a maximum depth of 5 metres with a top speed of 0.6 metres per second. It is also equipped with onboard sensors to detect obstacles and automatically change course without relying on pre-programmed routes.

Other features include path planning, task allocation, and formation control, allowing multiple robots to coordinate and cover large areas together. Speaking about operational utility, it is ideal for narrow, shallow and changing underwater environments where large vehicles and human operators can’t reach.

Boyagongdao has also previously developed a biomimetic ROBO-SHARK in cooperation with a military unit.

The post took the internet by storm as some praised China’s growing capabilities. Others voiced concern regarding its misuse in surveillance and spying potential.

One user wrote, “The robot bird conspiracy crowd got vindicated and now they've moved to the ocean before anyone finished laughing.”

Another user voiced concerns, “China will turn anything that moves into a spying machine—Chinese cars, Chinese products, and now even fish. China wants to control all of us. China is a real threat to the freedom of every person on the planet.”

“China is the pinnacle of technology,” the third one said.