Controversial Chinese research vessel docks in Maldives

The much-speculated Xiang Yang Hong 3 Chinese research vessel docked at Maldives on Thursday.

According to the VesselFinder website, the ship docked in Maldives at 9:42 am on Thursday. The ship is now near Thilafushi, the industrial island near capital Male.

The Maldivian Foreign Ministry had earlier said the ship was docking in Maldives on a resupply run. Although India has expressed concern that the ship is coming to Maldives, the ministry has said that the ship is not here for research and such a permission has not been issued.

India, which has always been wary of China's military influence spreading into the Indian Ocean, believes that the purpose of the Chinese vessel is to gather information and to collect data which could - at a later date - be used by the Chinese military in submarine operations.

India has become more tense as the vessel was allowed docking in Maldives after Sri Lanka respected India’s wishes in denying authorization to the vessel. Beyond being a diplomatic snub, this might prove to be a further strain on diplomatic relations between Maldives and India.

Reuters had quoted an Indian military official and an independent researcher as saying:

An Indian military official had earlier told Reuters that they were patrolling the area, and that the Chinese vessel was being closely monitored.