New Delhi: Chinese research vessel Xiang Yang Hong 03 entered the Indian Ocean Friday and was on its way to the Maldives, local media reported.
The ship has made at least two port calls in the island country in 2024, amid India’s growing concern over China’s activity in the Indian Ocean Region in recent years.
The Xiang Yang Hong 03 is expected to reach the borders of Maldivian waters on Monday, according to online newspaper Adhadhu. The ship was located near Indonesia on 12 July, according to maritime analytics provider, MarineTraffic.
There is no statement yet from the Maldivian government regarding whether the ship is expected to dock at its ports. The vessel left the Chinese port of Xiamen on 3 July and is scheduled to return on 28 August, according to MarineTraffic.
On 23 January, days after Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu completed his first official foreign visit to China, Malé announced it was giving the Xiang Yang Hong 03 permission to dock at Maldivian ports. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in its statement explained that the ship would be making a port call “for rotation of personnel and replenishment”.
“The vessel would not be conducting any research while in the Maldivian waters,” added the Maldivian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in its statement.
New Delhi has been unhappy with both Sri Lanka and Maldives allowing the Xiang Yang Hong 03 to dock in its ports. Termed as research vessels, the information collected by such ships can be used for both civilian and military purposes.
Colombo in December 2023 put in place a moratorium on allowing such vessels from all countries to dock at its port. Tharaka Balasuriya, Sri Lanka’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, told ThePrint that the decision was made keeping India’s security concerns in mind.
However, since Muizzu’s election as president of Maldives, the island country has shown a distinct tilt towards China, even as ties have normalised between New Delhi and Malé in recent months.
The Xiang Yang Hong 03, for example, was allowed to dock twice in the country – in Malé on 22 February and in the Thilafushi harbour on 25 April – before departing. The vessel spent nearly three months in the waters surrounding the Maldivian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
While Chinese vessels have been around to dock in Maldives, its government last December decided not renew the hydrography agreement with India.
(Edited by Tikli Basu)
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