Xiang Yang Hong 3: Chinese ship's port call in Maldives fans India tensions - BBC News

A Chinese research ship's imminent arrival at Male has increased tensions between Beijing and Delhi.

14 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage caption, The Chinese vessel Xiang Yang Hong 3 in Honolulu, HawaiiBy Anbarasan EthirajanBBC NewsThe expected arrival of a Chinese research ship in the Maldives this week has escalated tensions between Beijing, Delhi and Male.

Officially, the vessel Xiang Yang Hong 3 is there to "make a port call, for rotation of personnel and replenishment". In short, an entirely innocuous stop.

But that is not how it is being seen in Delhi. Instead, the ship's presence is at the very least a diplomatic snub. At worst, some fear, it could be a mission to collect data which could - at a later date - be used by the Chinese military in submarine operations.

China experts, however, have shrugged off their concerns.

"The Chinese ships carry out scientific research work in the Indian ocean. Its activities on the high sea are entirely legitimate," Zhou Bo, a former People's Liberation Army Senior Colonel, told the BBC.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-68163343?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=KARANGA

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