The Chinese research and survey vessel Yuan Wang 5 has re-entered the Indian Ocean in what coincides with a planned Indian long range missile test on December 15 or 16. In a similar incident last month, another vessel, Yuan Wang 6, entered the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) coinciding with a planned Indian missile launch, but the launch was then deferred.
According to the maritime vessel tracking portal, Yuan Wang 5 had entered the IOR through the Sundastrait, off Indonesia, late in the evening of December 4. The vessel was in the IOR last month As per the open source intelligence handle on, India had issued a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) for a no fly zone over the Bay of Bengal for a possible missile launch with a window between December 15 and 16, for a maximum distance of 5,400 km. Given the range, it is likely to be the test of the Agni5 intermediate range ballistic missile.While research activities are allowed on international waters as per international regulations, the data generated had a dual nature, including military, and on many occasions, the motive of the Chinese vessels seemed doubtful, defence officials had said.
As per the open source intelligence handle, India had issued a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) for a no fly zone over the Bay of Bengal for a possible missile launch with a window between December 15 and 16, for a maximum distance of 5,400 km. Given the range, it is likely to be the test of the Agni5 intermediate range ballistic missile. While research activities are allowed on international waters as per international regulations, the data generated had a dual nature, including military, and on many occasions, the motive of the Chinese vessels seemed doubtful, defence officials had said.
Diplomatic clash
In August, the docking of Yuan Wang 5 at Hambantota in Sri Lanka had created a major diplomatic situation between India and Sri Lanka. Last week, Navy chief Admiral R. Hari Kumar said that there were a lot of Chinese ships which operated in the region. He added that there were four to six Navy ships, research vessels and fishing vessels apart from 60 odd ships of extra regional forces, and as a resident power, the Indian Navy kept track and ensured that “they do not undertake any inimical activities”. As reported by The Hindu earlier, there had been a steady rise in the deployment of Chinese research vessels in the IOR, and the general area of deployment observed was around 90degree east ridge and
southwest Indian ridge. The research or survey vessels have powerful equipment for snooping and gathering a range of data.
The Chinese presence in the Indian Ocean began in 2008 under the garb of antipiracy operations in the Gulf of Aden and have
since it has maintained a continuous presence in the region.
