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China’s scientific sea voyages might rile India, but will they lead to clash?
- Chinese research ships in Indian Ocean will raise alarms, but New Delhi is unlikely to escalate unless it feels threatened, analysts say
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Three Chinese research vessels have been operating in the Indian Ocean this week, according to open-source data, in the latest sign Beijing aims to expand its scientific excursions at sea.
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While Beijing has insisted the voyages are for scientific research purposes, observers warned that regional powers such as India could become increasingly concerned about the blurred boundaries between China’s military and civilian technology, though they say open confrontation is unlikely.
According to the latest data by tracking website MarineTraffic, research ship Zhongshan Daxue approached the eastern edge of the Indian Ocean near the Indonesian island of Sumatra on Wednesday, while the Xiang Yang Hong 03 sailed near the Bay of Bengal.
The Yuan Wang 7, a member of China’s space support fleet, was seen heading towards Africa’s eastern coast on Wednesday. The ship is outfitted with advanced sensors and communication equipment.
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Notably, it was the first time that the Zhongshan Daxue, the country’s largest and most advanced oceanographic research vessel, was spotted patrolling in the region. With a displacement of 6,800 tonnes, the ship was commissioned in 2021 and made its maiden voyage in the South China Sea last year.
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