Online Images Show New Spy Ship Exported by China

Images of Pakistan's new spy ship supplied by China have emerged online, further clarifying the strategic alignment between Beijing and Islamabad.

"Analysis of recent imagery along supported by other sources suggests Pakistan has procured a new Intelligence gathering vessel from China in 2023," Damien Symon, a renowned open-source intelligence expert, wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Saturday, while revealing the first image of the Pakistani spy ship.

"This modernization effort of Pakistan is supported by China aligning with its strategic interests in the Indian Ocean Region, with aims to enhance the capabilities of a crucial ally." Damien Symon, a renowned open-source intelligence expert, said while revealing the first image of the Pakistani spy ship.

Measuring 87.2 meters (286 feet) in length and 19 meters in width, the vessel appears to have been supplied to Pakistan in 2023.

The Pakistan Navy has bolstered its maritime intelligence capabilities by acquiring its first spy ship, PNS Rizwan, a strategic addition courtesy of China.

Symons has further argued that the vessel acts as a telemetry and intelligence-gathering vessel.

Despite PNS Rizwan's operational discretion—evidenced by its avoidance of publicly broadcasting its AIS (Automatic Identification System) signal during missions—its movement from China to Indonesia between May and June 2023 was documented by open-source maritime data provider Marinetraffic.com.

This acquisition is part of a broader military and strategic collaboration pattern between Pakistan and China, underscoring their aligned interests in the Indian Ocean Region.

Newsweek contacted Pakistan's Embassy in Washington D.C. for comment. Newsweek also contacted the U.S. State Department for comment.

The revelation comes as the strategic divergence between China and Pakistan has deepened in recent years. China has described the nature of its strategic partnership with Pakistan as "iron brothers," with Beijing investing billions of dollars in Pakistan's economy.

Despite close ties with China, Pakistan is still a U.S. major non-NATO ally.

China is also a leading supplier of major weapon systems to Pakistan, while the two countries also jointly manufacture the JF-17 "Thunder" lightweight fighters.

Beijing has a series of research vessels that explore the deep seas for submarine warfare and carry out surveillance activities in strategic ocean passages.

Xiang Yang Hong 3, a research vessel linked to China's Third Institute of Oceanography, has been at the center of controversy over its surveillance activities in the Indian Ocean.

The Washington-based think tank Center for International and Strategic has recently argued, citing maritime activity data from the Windward Intelligence Platform, that Chinese survey vessels have been conducting surveillance activity in the Indian Ocean. These vessels also assist with submarine warfare by mapping the sea floor.

PNS Rizwan is believed to be smaller than its Indian counterpart. It operates under the Pakistan Navy in close coordination with Chinese military efforts.

The new spy vessel will put Pakistan among an elite group of nations capable of deploying such advanced intelligence-gathering vessels, a list that includes prominent maritime powers like India, France, the U.S., the U.K., Russia, and China.

Seen as a countermeasure to India's INS Dhruv, inducted in 2021 with capabilities to track satellite and ballistic nuclear missiles, PNS Rizwan represents Pakistan's growing focus on enhancing its naval surveillance and intelligence operations, the Print reported.

The INS Dhruv is noted for its dual-use capacity in monitoring India's missile tests and those conducted by other nations.