Chinese research vessel Xiang Yang Hong 03 is entering the Indian Ocean and headed to Maldives, according to Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) observers and maritime tracking portals. Official sources acknowledged the development but did not comment on it. The destination — Male — is noteworthy given the moratorium on foreign research vessels by Sri Lanka and the ongoing friction between India and Maldives over Indian troops stationed there.
“Xiang Yang Hong 03 a Chinese ocean research vessel is entering the Indian Ocean Region [IOR], displaying its destination as Male, the vessel is expected to run an ocean survey operation in the Indian Ocean Region raising concern in India,” OSINT handle @detresfa posted on social media platform ‘X’, adding the vessel coordinates.
