Yuan Wang, the Chinese class research vessel had entered Indian waters from Malacca straits in August of this year. The ship was being constantly monitored by Indian Navy warships deployed in the region.
This vessel returned to China a few days ago after being on the radar of the Indian Navy. It has been noted that Chinese research vessels have been cruising Indian waters regularly as part of efforts to acquire sensitive information about Indian maritime territory.
In 2019, a similar research vessel was asked to move out of an area near Andaman and Nicobar Islands after it was found indulging in suspicious activities in Indian waters.
A research/survey vessel built-in 2007, Yuan Wang has a carrying capacity of 11,000 DWT.
This development has come to light amid the Indian-China military standoff in eastern Ladakh. Soldiers of the Indian Army and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) have been engaged in an intense standoff since China altered the status quo along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in April of this year.