The Privy Council No. 10 WeChat *** news pointed out that India ** has been very excited recently, claiming that they "successfully prevented" China's "Xiangyanghong 3" scientific research ship from docking in Sri Lanka, and the Indian submarine also arrived in Sri Lanka at the same time for a visit, claiming that this is a proof that "India has defeated China in the diplomatic struggle". However, this raises the question of why India is so wary of Chinese research vessels.
According to the Hindustan Times, India has achieved a diplomatic "double kill" against China. According to the report, the Indian Navy's Scorpene-class submarine USS Karangi arrived at the port of Colombo on February 3, Sri Lanka's Independence Day, for an official visit, "which is clearly to highlight India's status as a major security guarantor in the Indian Ocean region and to send a signal to China, which has recently become increasingly active in the Indian Ocean region." Earlier, Sri Lanka had just announced that it would no longer allow Chinese research vessels to dock at its ports or operate in its exclusive economic zone for a year. India** believes that this is the result of India's diplomatic pressure.
However, it is not the first time that India has expressed "concerns" about the research activities of Chinese ships in the Indian Ocean. For example, the Chinese research vessel Yuanwang 5 was allowed to dock at Sri Lanka's Hambantota port in August 2022, and the experimental 6 docked at Colombo port in October 2023, all of which made New Delhi express "concern" about Sri Lanka**. India** claims that it is so vigilant about the movements of Chinese research vessels in the Indian Ocean not only because they can monitor test-fired missile or satellite data, but also because they may conduct hydrographic surveys and map the underwater shipping lanes of submarines.
However, Chinese spokesman Wang Wenbin pointed out at a press conference that the activities of Chinese research vessels in the Indian Ocean are aimed at peaceful exploration and are in line with the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Nonetheless, India has long adhered to the view that "the Indian Ocean is the Indian Ocean" and instinctively excludes access from other countries. At the instigation of the United States, India is now increasingly active in preventing the Chinese Navy from entering the Indian Ocean. The movements of submarines are more stealthy and difficult to track than obvious surface ships, so India is on high alert for any move that could assist Chinese submarines in entering the Indian Ocean.
India ** has more than once hyped up the situation of "the appearance of Chinese submarines in the Indian Ocean". For example, in 2014, the Chinese Navy sent a submarine to the Gulf of Aden and Somali waters to carry out escort missions, but India** claimed that "a Chinese submarine entered the Indian Ocean for the first time", causing concern in the international community. In 2017, when a Chinese submarine was resting and replenishing in Malaysia, India** once again made malicious hype, saying that "Chinese nuclear submarines and conventional submarines carry out regular patrols in the Indian Ocean".
In order to monitor and prevent Chinese submarines from entering the Indian Ocean, India has carried out a lot of work. The Strait of Malacca is the most convenient passage for submarines from the Pacific Ocean to the Indian Ocean. India has accelerated the construction of military fortifications in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands near the western entrance to the Strait of Malacca, including the construction of airfields, the deployment of anti-submarine patrol aircraft, and plans to work with the United States and Japan to build a submarine anti-submarine monitoring network to better detect "the whereabouts of Chinese submarines in nearby waters."
In addition, India has successively introduced the P-8I anti-submarine patrol aircraft and the "Sea Guardian" UAV to enhance its air anti-submarine capabilities. The Indian Navy plans to have 6 attack nuclear submarines in 2030. According to the agreement signed with Russia, India will acquire an Akula II-class attack nuclear submarine from Russia on a Lend-Lease basis by 2026 and deploy it at bases in the eastern Indian Ocean. In addition, India wants to cooperate with France in the construction of new attack nuclear submarines.
While India's wariness of Chinese research vessels is justified, its response may have been too violent. The two sides should resolve their differences through dialogue and consultation and jointly safeguard stability and security in the Indian Ocean region. In the face of a complex geopolitical situation, we should think about how to achieve a win-win situation on the basis of cooperation, rather than excessive competition and confrontation. How do you think the relationship between India and China should be handled?