Alarm Bells For India As China Sends Spy Ship Near Andaman And Nicobar In Indian Ocean: Report

China has often been accused of intruding into the Indian territories, especially from Himalayan regions spanning over Leh and Sikkim sectors. Both Asian powers were locked in intense logjam over Doklam. Now, there are reports coming in that Beijing has sent its spy ship in the Indian Ocean Region. The intelligence reports say that Chinese surveillance ships came close to naval bases located in Andaman and Nicobar islands. This might be disturbing for India’s naval security. According to a report by Zee News, Beijing sent its advanced surveillance ship - Dongdiao class ship Tianwangxing- in the Indian Ocean Region.

It should be noted that the Andaman’s Port Blair naval base is the only Tri-Service Theatre Command of the Indian Armed Forces. Hence, Chinese spy ship coming so close to the base can be of trouble for India. ''We are also ascertaining the details of intelligence gathering equipment fitted onboard PLAN ship,'' a senior official was quoted as saying by Zee News.

The People's Liberation Army (PLA) now operates six electronic reconnaissance vessels, the state-run China Daily newspaper said today. According to details available, the PLA Navy now operates six electronic reconnaissance vessels - Beijixing (Polaris), Tianwangxing (Uranus), Tianlangxing (Sirius), Haiwangxing (Neptune), Kaiyangxing (Mizar) and another whose name has not been revealed and is only known by its hull code of 855. 

Apart from tension in Doklam, things have rather been much trouble-free for both Indian and Chinese navies. In fact, two Indian battle ships, including INS Kolkata - the biggest indigenously built stealth destroyer - along with INS Shakti - one of biggest fleet support ships - took part in the fleet review at Qingdao on April 23 which was presided over by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Significantly, conspicuous by their absence were the ships of Pakistan Navy at the parade. The Pakistan Navy reportedly could not send its ships to PLAN's most celebrated moment despite the all-weather relations due to the recent Indo-Pak hostilities after the deadly Pulwama terror attack in February. However, a delegation headed by Pakistan Navy chief Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi attended the event.

Earlier in May, the Indian Navy launched INS Vela, the fourth stealth Scorpene class submarine, from Mumbai’s Mazagon Dock Limited for trials. The two other submarines in the country's Scorpene Submarine programme are Vagir and Vagsheer and they are currently in the advanced stages of manufacturing at MDL. The navy had launched Project-75, under which six submarines are to be developed. INS Kalvari is the first of the six Scorpene class submarines built under Project 75.The Submarine was commissioned on 14 December 2017. INS Chakra is an 8,140-tonne Akula class, nuclear-powered submarine..The submarine was commissioned on 04 April, 2012.

HIGHLIGHTS

• People's Liberation Army operates 6 electronic reconnaissance vessels.
• Chinese spy ships stayed at India's Exclusive Economic Zone.
• Apart from Doklam tension, things have been trouble-free for both navies.