1. Chinese research ship arrives in Maldives, sparking security concerns.
2. India expresses apprehension over the visit, citing previous similar incidents.
3. Arrival of the ship raises questions about security dynamics in the Indian Ocean region.
New Delhi, Feb 22: A Chinese research ship has recently arrived in the Maldives, stirring security concerns in the Indian Ocean region, particularly for India, which has previously expressed apprehension over similar visits.
The vessel, named Xiang Yang Hong 03 and owned by a research institute under China’s natural resources ministry, docked in the Maldives capital of Male. Its arrival comes after more than three weeks of surveying waters near the exclusive economic zones of India, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka.
While China insists that the purpose of its research missions is solely for peaceful and scientific endeavors, concerns have been raised by India and other regional powers regarding the potential dual-use nature of these vessels, implying they could serve both civilian and military objectives.
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Xiang Yang Hong 03’s presence in the Indian Ocean is not an isolated incident. Similar Chinese research vessels have made multiple visits to the region in recent years, causing unease among neighboring countries.
Past instances include the sailing of Chinese research vessels through the Sunda Strait in Indonesia, where concerns were raised over the vessels switching off their tracking systems, and the arrival of military-capable vessels like Yuan Wang 5 in Sri Lanka, raising alarms in India.
The arrival of Xiang Yang Hong 03 in the Maldives coincides with a recent visit by Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu to China, where ties between the two nations were strengthened, with Beijing offering substantial financial aid.
Despite assurances from the Maldivian government that the Chinese vessel will not conduct research activities within its waters and will only make stops for personnel rotation and supplies, the visit has nonetheless raised eyebrows in the context of regional security dynamics.
