China recently launched an Oceanographic survey vessel, Shi Yan 6, manned by 60 crew members for a three-month mission to Sri Lanka's Hambantota Port, right in front of India. As before, China claims that the presence of the survey ship is purely for oceanography, marine geology and marine ecology research missions so that it is safe and does not threaten the sovereignty of any country, a claim which of course is flatly rejected by India, which geographically has a very strong interest in the Ocean. Indies.
Indian Navy Commodore, Anil Jai Singh, revealed that the Shi Yan 6 'survey ship' can obtain seabed mapping data, record hydrological data to understand the profile of the underwater environment, collect intelligence on undersea cables, record telemetry data on missile firings and so on.
In addition to their scientific purposes, Chinese survey vessels, including the Shi Yan 6, also produce data on seabed conditions that can be used for civil and military purposes. Although seismic data is essential in assessing geological conditions, the presence of hydrocarbons, water and seabed conditions also influence the ability to detect submarines.
Research vessels involved in scientific research may also use their instruments for naval reconnaissance, gathering intelligence regarding foreign military facilities and ships operating in the vicinity. This is what makes India quite hot.
Although China did not reveal the Shi Yan 6's research route, reports said the ship collected data in the shallow waters of the Malacca Strait for their submarine's path to Hambantota Harbor, Sri Lanka, which China has controlled since 2017. At that time, the port was controlled by a Chinese civilian company before being acquired by the Chinese military in the same year for the next 99 years.
The Shi Yan 6 is also believed to be stopping at the port of Chittagong in Bangladesh and the port of Gwadar in Pakistan. These two ports along with Hambantota port are called the “triangle of death” surrounding India.
Another report also said that the Shi Yan 6 would carry out an 'Oceanographic survey' mission on the Ninetyeast Ridge or Punggung Bukit Sembilanpuluh, a mid-ocean ridge at the bottom of the Indian Ocean, which is located just off the coast of the Mentawai Islands and Nias Island. This ridge divides the Indian Ocean into the West and East Indian Ocean.
Naval experts argue that this division of distance - by making Ninetyeast Ridge a 'base' - is important for submarine operations. The data will help Chinese submarines increase their activities in the Indian Ocean.
In August 2019, the Chinese survey vessel Shi Yan 1 docked 460 km east of Port Blair island, India, in the Bay of Bengal and was driven away by an Indian Navy warship.
In December 2019, another survey vessel, the Xiang Yang Hong 06, reportedly deployed at least 12 underwater drones in the Indian Ocean. This long-endurance UUV traveled approximately 12,000 km at a depth of 6.5 km from the sea surface to collect data on currents and water properties.
Experts also argue that China's survey activities near Indonesia, the Andaman Islands and the Nicobar Islands in India are aimed at finding the US Navy's 'hook' sensor network. The network is designed to provide warnings to the US Navy when Chinese submarines enter the Indian Ocean.
The US Navy's 'hook' sensor is said to be located close to the 'gateways' of the Indian Ocean such as the Sunda and Lombok straits, which are used by Chinese submarines to enter the Indian Ocean. The shallow waters make submarines vulnerable to detection. Therefore, China considers it necessary to get to know the region as much as possible.