Vessel Xiang Yang Hong 03 is currently off the coast of Xiamen in South China Sea and will travel via Malacca to these countries after securing permission.

Chinese Research Survey Vessel Shi Yan 6 had recently completed its survey off the coast of Sri Lanka and reached Singapore on 2 December.

The apprehensions expressed by India, stem from concerns that Beijing might exploit these vessels for intelligence-gathering on India under the guise of marine exploration, a special report added.

China’s rapid expansion of its maritime capabilities, including the acquisition of three aircraft carriers, nuclear submarines, and guided missile destroyers by the PLA Navy, has led to an increased presence in the Indian Ocean.