A Chinese research ship, Xiang Yang Hong 03, is set to arrive in the Maldives on Thursday, following a visit to the Indian Ocean in January. The ship, owned by a research institute, spent over three weeks surveying waters outside India, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka s exclusive economic zones. India has voiced concerns about China s presence in the Indian Ocean, even if they do not belong to the military.
Amid growing tensions between India and Maldives, a Chinese 'research' ship reportedly entered the waters of the island nation on Thursday (Feb 22), news agency Reuters reported citing global ship-tracking data.
This comes just three months after a similar vessel visited the Indian Ocean and sparked security concerns among the Indian authorities.