YUAN WANG 5 | IAS GYAN

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Context: The Chinese research and survey vessel Yuan Wang 5 has re-entered the Indian Ocean in what coincides with a planned Indian long-range missile test on December 15 or 16. In a similar incident last month, another vessel, Yuan Wang 6, entered the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) coinciding with a planned Indian missile launch, but the launch was then deferred.

Details:

India had issued a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) for a no-fly zone over the Bay of Bengal for a possible missile launch with a window between December 15 and 16, for a maximum distance of 5,400 km.
Given the range, it is likely to be the test of the Agni-5 intermediate range ballistic missile.
While research activities are allowed on international waters as per international regulations, the data generated had a dual nature, including military, and on many occasions, the motive of the Chinese vessels seemed doubtful.
In August, the docking of Yuan Wang 5 at Hambantota in Sri Lanka had created a major diplomatic situation between India and Sri Lanka.
Navy chief Admiral R. Hari Kumar said that there were a lot of Chinese ships which operated in the region. He added that there were four to six Navy ships, research vessels and fishing vessels apart from 60-odd ships of extra-regional forces, and as a resident power, the Indian Navy kept track and ensured that “they do not undertake any inimical activities”.
The Chinese presence in the Indian Ocean began in 2008 under the garb of anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden and have since maintained continuous presence in the region, even deploying nuclear attack submarines (SSN) on occasions.
China had since set up a military base in Djibouti and developed several dual-use ports in the IOR in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Pakistan and other countries.

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