The permission was restricted to “rotation of personnel and replenishment” functions solely, and the vessel isn’t allowed to hold out any analysis in Maldivian waters, in response to the island nation’s overseas ministry.

India’s navy will monitor the ship’s whole journey within the area “to ensure that it does not carry out any exploration activity in the Maldivian exclusive economic zone”, the Hindustan Times reported.

India has labelled the Xiang Yang Hong 3 a “Chinese spy ship” and expressed its issues over its “surveillance activity” to Sri Lanka and the Maldives final yr.

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What is the Xiang Yang Hong 3 and what does it do?

Commissioned in 2016, the Xiang Yang Hong 3 is operated by China’s Ministry of National Resources. With an operational vary of 15,000 nautical miles (27,780km), the Xiang Yang Hong 3 can stay at sea for as much as 60 days.

The ship is supplied with superior ocean analysis services and has performed a key function in China’s oceanic analysis, primarily within the Pacific and Indian oceans.

The vessel can even home short-term laboratory modules for particular missions, in response to a report by Science and Technology Daily. Its “integrated optical cabin” is loaded with cutting-edge cameras, sensors and laser markers to report imagery, make exact measurements and collect advanced knowledge.

Although the Xiang Yang Hong 03 isn’t a navy vessel, India has been suspicious about its actions within the Indian Ocean. In January 2021, Indian media reported the ship had been “mapping the sea floor, probably with underwater drones” within the East Indian Ocean, and amassing knowledge that might assist Chinese submarine actions within the area.

The vessel returned to the Indian Ocean area in June 2022, and once more in late 2023.

What Chinese analysis ships are within the area?

The Indian Ocean has grow to be a frequent vacation spot for Chinese scientific analysis ships.

The Xiang Yang Hong, or “Facing the Red Sun”, vessels are a category of survey and analysis ships that additionally contains the Xiang Yang Hong 1, 6 and 19 – all of which have been reported to be working in the identical area.

The Shi Yan, or “Experiment” ships, run by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, is one other fleet of China’s energetic survey vessels. In 2019, India mentioned its navy expelled the Shi Yan 1 from India’s unique financial zone within the Andaman Sea, claiming the ship was “spying” on its navy.

China, the only permanent Asian member of the UNSC, wants it to stay that way

In August 2022, the Yuan Wang 5 survey ship visited Hambantota International Port in Sri Lanka to resupply. Late final yr, Colombo hosted the analysis ship Shi Yan 6, which performed a joint maritime survey in Sri Lankan waters.

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Why does internet hosting Chinese analysis ships matter?

In latest a long time, China has vastly elevated its presence within the Indian Ocean via naval patrols, financial actions, and scientific analysis, all of which India sees as a risk in its yard. Since a lethal border conflict in 2020, the 2 Asian giants have stepped-up their competitors for affect within the area.

Unreported border clashes between Chinese, Indian troops took place in 2022

“The Maldives has always been a welcoming destination for vessels of friendly countries, and continues to host both civilian and military vessels making port calls for peaceful purposes,” the Maldivian overseas ministry mentioned, referring to the Xiang Yang Hong 3 go to.

Sri Lanka, however, beneath diplomatic strain from India, has since banned any additional visits by Chinese analysis vessels, and prohibited them from working inside its unique financial zone for all of 2024. The transfer has been hailed by Indian media as a “victory” over China.