China has described a visit by a spy ship to the Maldives as justified "research activity" as tensions with India escalated over the vessel.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said that the Xiang Yang Hong 3'smission was peaceful, but experts suspect it is to gather intelligence.
"China's scientific research activities in relevant waters are for peaceful purposes and aimed at contributing to humanity's scientific understanding of the ocean. The activities are in strict compliance with the terms of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea," Wang said on Tuesday during the regular press briefing.
"For years, China and the Maldives have maintained close cooperation in marine scientific research. China appreciates the facilitation and assistance extended by the Maldives to Chinese research vessels entering its port on the basis of sovereignty and China-Maldives friendship and in accordance with the relevant provisions of international law," Wang added.
The tension over the visit reflects China's assertive maritime research efforts under the guise of peaceful exploration. Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu has pivoted toward Beijing as regional geopolitical dynamics have pitted Malé against New Delhi, its traditional ally.
Scheduled to dock at the main port of the Maldives sometime this week, experts believe the vessel is carrying out intelligence-gathering activity, which can be crucial for submarine warfare, Newsweek has previously reported.
Peter Dutton and Ryan Martinson, researchers in a November 2018 report for the U.S. Naval War College, linked China's oceanographic research to the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).
"Civilian oceanographers also support the PLAN through their efforts to model oceanic processes. Especially important are the dynamic elements of the ocean battlespace environment, such as surface and subsurface currents, tides, and surface and subsurface waves," the authors said in the 2018 report.
The mapping of the seafloor aids in underwater resource exploration but also facilitates safer operations for the Chinese navy's growing fleet of submarines. In recent years, Beijing's spy ships have been spotted in the deep waters of the Pacific Ocean.
The Maldives Foreign Ministry has defended its decision to allow the Xiang Yang Hong 3's visit, emphasizing that it is for "rotation of personnel and replenishment" and asserting the nation's openness to vessels from friendly countries for peaceful purposes.
This stance is indicative of the Maldives' broader approach to international relations, which has recently seen a significant tilt towards Beijing, as evidenced by Muizzu's visit to China last month, where he met President Xi Jinping and signed 20 agreements, thereby elevating their bilateral ties.
India's unease with China's maritime activities in its backyard is not new. Past visits by Chinese naval and research vessels, including the docking of two Chinese naval submarines in Colombo in 2014 and visits by Chinese research vessels to Sri Lanka, have been viewed with suspicion by New Delhi.
The Xiang Yang Hong 3 had initially planned to visit Colombo for replenishment before proceeding to the Maldives, a plan that was eventually shelved, possibly in light of the sensitivities involved.
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About the writer
Aadil Brar is a reporter for Newsweek based in Taipei, Taiwan. He covers international security, U.S.-China relations, and East Asian ... Read more
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