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Is China’s Most Advanced Spy Ship Secretly Tracking US Missiles in the Gulf of Oman?
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Multiple Asian outlets have reported that China’s Liaowang-1, a Chinese cutting-edge spy ship, could have been stationed in the Gulf of Oman near Iran, Defense Express reported on March 9.
The Liaowang-1, which entered service in spring 2025, is equipped with a unique set of technologies designed to track missile launches and monitor space activities.
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This ship’s mission is primarily focused on surveillance, making it an essential asset for the Chinese government’s intelligence-gathering efforts. Equipped with a range of radar systems, some hidden beneath radio-transparent domes, the vessel is a formidable tool for collecting data on military activity, including missile launches and potential air threats, Defense Express wrote.
At a large 332 meters long and with water displacement of 30,000 tons, the Liaowang-1 is one of China’s most sophisticated maritime intelligence platforms. Its array of equipment is thought to include advanced radar, electronic warfare systems, and even a telescope.
One of the most notable aspects of the Liaowang-1 is its potential role in analyzing US and Israeli missile defense systems. The ship could track the launch of missiles from both countries and relay that information to Iranian military forces, according to Defense Express.
Though reports initially indicated that the Liaowang-1 was deployed to the Gulf of Oman, recent satellite imagery, reviewed by OSINT expert MT Anderson on X, confirms that the vessel has not yet left Shanghai.
RUMOR VS. REALITY: Tracking 🇨🇳 New Space-Tracking Ship Liaowang-1
— MT Anderson (@MT_Anderson) March 9, 2026
There has been a lot of "information" recently circulating about the current status and location of China's new generation space-support and surveillance ship, the Liaowang-1.
Let's look at the actual data to cut… pic.twitter.com/Pi0993fxP0
This suggests that while China may have plans to deploy such advanced surveillance assets to the region, the Liaowang-1 itself has yet to make its way toward the Gulf.
The potential deployment of Chinese intelligence vessels like the Liaowang-1 near Iran could significantly impact relations in the Middle East. As the US and Israel continue to bolster their presence in the region, particularly in response to Iran’s missile and drone programs, China’s involvement in regional surveillance offers Tehran an opportunity to gain intelligence on its adversaries.
Despite this, it is important to note that China’s stance regarding the ongoing conflict in the Middle East appears to be cautious. Beijing has close ties with Iran, so it is entirely possible that they have one or multiple surveillance ships in the region, but not something as flashy and noticable as cutting-edge Liaowang-1 spy ship, at least not yet.
The prospect of a Chinese surveillance vessel feeding tracking data to Iran aligns with a growing, direct military partnership between Beijing and Tehran.
Even if the Liaowang-1 has not yet left Shanghai, reports suggest China is actively bolstering Iran’s naval and missile capabilities. Iran was previously reportedly finalizing a deal to acquire Chinese CM-302 supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles.
If finalized, this major procurement—aimed at countering the US naval presence in the Gulf—would prove that China is positioning itself as a vital strategic counterbalance, supplying Tehran with both the weapons and potentially the intelligence needed to challenge its adversaries.
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