Uptick in Chinese vessels’ presence in Indian Ocean region: Official

“It has been observed that 12-15 ships get deployed in the IOR over a year. On an average, there are about three vessels in the IOR at any given time,” an official said, adding that the overall forays or deployments of Chinese research vessels have remained comparable in the last few years.

In the backdrop of India planning to test a nuclear ballistic missile in a fortnight, a Chinese ship —which can track satellites and missiles — has started sailing into the Indian Ocean Region earlier this month. This would be the fourth ship in the region with the Chinese already having deployed oceanographic survey and research ships Xiang Yang Hong 01 and Xiang Yang Hong 02 and another survey vessel Da Yang Hao.

As per the officials, the hydrographical research vessels are well-equipped to undertake multifarious activities depending on the sensor suite on board these vessels.

They said that the vessels could undertake geological research, bathymetric data collection, seabed sampling and underwater current profiling, laying and maintenance of buoys, among others.

“It is also possible that the data collected can be utilised for Chinese PLA (Navy) submarine operations in the IOR,” the official quoted above said.

As per officials, in recent times, Chinese research vessels have been observed to be maintained outside the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone. “The Indian Navy maintains a close watch on all Chinese vessels, including research vessels, whenever they are operating in the IOR,” an official said.