Original Tong Li Observer.com.
With the arrival of the Chinese research ship "Xiangyanghong 03" in the Maldives this week, foreign media, including a number of Indian media, began a new round of hype.
According to Reuters on February 22, the real-time tracking of the ship ** "marinetraffic" data shows that the "Xiangyanghong 03" docked at the port of Malé, the capital of the Maldives, on the 22nd after leaving the home port of Xiamen for more than a month. Prior to its arrival, the civilian vessel had spent more than three weeks surveying waters outside the exclusive economic zones of India, the Maldives and Sri Lanka. Moreover, the "Xiangyanghong 03" has visited the Indian Ocean several times.
The article then played up the ship's ties to Chinese officials and hyped that in recent years, India has expressed concern about Chinese research vessels visiting the Indian Ocean, even if they are not part of the military. Indian Security** previously claimed that the ships had a "dual use" and that the data they collected could be used for both civilian and military purposes.
Indian media also reported on India's actions. On the same day that the "Xiangyanghong 03" arrived in the Maldives, ships from the Indian and Sri Lankan coast guards also arrived in the strategically important archipelago to participate in a trilateral naval exercise, citing the Press Trust of India (PTI).
Indian media also stressed that the tension between India and the Maldives has continued to escalate recently, and the Maldives ** Moiz won ** last year with an "anti-Indian" stance, and he took Beijing as the first stop of his foreign trip, breaking the tradition of the Maldives ** to visit New Delhi first.
It is worth noting that on the evening of February 18, Mouiz just announced the signing of an agreement between the Maldives and India, confirming two dates for the withdrawal of India's military personnel from the Maldives. The agreement calls on India to recall all military personnel stationed in the Maldives by May 10 this year, with the first batch to leave by March 10.
Reuters previously pointed out that the "Xiangyanghong 03" is a scientific research ship rather than **, but India and other countries have been "worried" that such ships may use marine research for military purposes, and have repeatedly been dissatisfied with similar ships approaching their waters. India's Economic Times claimed last month that India was tracking the ship's activities, including "any attempt to collect data on resources in the region." An Indian defence agency** also told The Times of India that "the Indian Navy is closely monitoring its movements".
Data map from Xinhuanet.
On February 6, in response to a question from a Chinese research vessel, spokesperson Wang Wenbin said that China's scientific research activities in relevant waters are for peaceful purposes and aimed at enhancing mankind's scientific understanding of the ocean, which is fully in line with the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
According to the "Maldives Republic" on January 23**, despite the opposition of its maritime neighbor India, the Maldives ** still allowed the Chinese scientific research ship "Xiangyanghong 03" to berth in the capital Male' for supplies on the same day.
"China** has made a diplomatic request to the Maldives** to obtain the necessary permits for port calls, personnel rotation and resupply," the statement said. Maldives *** stressed that the ship will not conduct any research in Maldivian waters, and that the Maldives "has always welcomed ships from friendly countries and continues to receive civilian and military vessels calling at its ports for peaceful purposes".
*|Observer.com.
Keep swiping to see the next one.
Keeping an eye on Chinese research ships? "India arrived on the same day"Original Tong Li
Tap to read the original article
Observer.com Like Share Looking at Write a Comment Swipe up to see the next one.
Original title: "Keeping an eye on China's scientific research ships? "India arrived on the same day"》