Two Chinese Research Vessels Operating in the Indian Ocean Are Making New Delhi Very Anxious

File image of the Xiang Yang Hong 03, one of two Chinese research vessels operating in the Indian Ocean Region.

A pair of Chinese research ships currently deployed to the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) have sparked renewed fears among observers in India that the vessels are gathering military intelligence.

The ships, Xiang Yang Hong 01 and Xiang Yang Hong 03, are well known to governments in the region as they’ve conducted numerous surveillance operations that the Chinese claim are purely for civilian research.

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by Eric Olander

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