Hi-Tech Chinese 'Spy' Ship Returns To Maldives | Purpose Not Disclosed

hi-tech chinese ‘spy’ ship returns to maldives | purpose not disclosed

Male: Two months after spending a week at different ports in Maldives, a Chinese ‘Spy’ ship is back in the waters of the country. The 4,500-tonne Chinese Ship, Xiang Yang Hong 03 was docked at Thilafushi industrial island harbour on Thursday morning. The news of the docking was reported by Adhadhu.com on Friday.

“The government has not disclosed the reason for its return. But the government previously confirmed permission for the ship to dock before its first visit,” it said, shortly after President Mohamed Muizzu, a pro-China leader of the People’s National Congress won the general election by securing 66 out of the 93-member People’s Majlis.

President Muizzu gained support after his ‘India Out’ appeal. His position has been strengthened by his majority win in the parliamentary polls on April 21, further consolidating his position.

“The ship has now come back after skirting the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Therefore, Xiang Yang Hong 03 has been active inside or near Maldives territory since January,” it said.

The ship had docked earlier at the same Thilafushi port, which is about 7.5 km to the west of Male, on February 23.

The hi-tech ship reached Maldivian waters on February 22 after spending nearly a month around the boundary of the Maldives’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). About six days later, the ship went back to the boundary of the EEZ.

The Maldivian Foreign Ministry had said earlier in February that the Xiang Yang Hong 3 was there to “make a port call, for the rotation of its personnel and replenishment” after a diplomatic request was made by the Chinese government to the government of Maldives.

“The vessel would not be conducting any research while in the Maldivian waters,” the Foreign Ministry said in January 2023.

The proximity of the Maldives to India, with it being barely 70 nautical miles from the island of Minicoy in Lakshadweep and 300 nautical miles from the mainland’s western coast, and its location at the hub of commercial sea lanes running through the Indian Ocean region (IOR), gives it significant strategic importance.

The details of the ship were provided by local media reports in February. According to the reports, the Xiang Yang Hong 03 is 100-metre-long vessel which was added to the fleet of China’s State Oceanic Administration (SOA) in 2016. This is the only 4,500-tonne vessel currently in China. Since 2019, China has also been using the vessel to conduct ‘distant water’ and ‘deep sea’ surveys at the China’s Pilot Ocean Laboratory.

The vessel can also be used for studying salinity, microbial genetics, underwater mineral exploration, and underwater life and environment. It has data buoys that can measure ocean currents, waves, and important environmental information. These buoys will provide real-time satellite information to the Chinese government, the report said.

The ship is the most modern vessel manufactured in the country for marine research, said Adhadhu.com on Friday, quoting China’s State Oceanic Administration. China says it is a comprehensive research vessel, which means it is equipped for more than one task.

According to China, the boat’s endurance is 15,000 nautical miles, which means it could travel 15,000 nautical miles non-stop for its work without any assistance.

The same Chinese vessel was present near the India-Maldives-Sri Lanka trilateral Dosti-16 exercise that took place near Male between February 22 and 25.

(With inputs from PTI)