Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) is allegedly spying on Indian Naval bases in the Indian Ocean Region via its sophisticated surveillance ship in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Indian Zee News reports.
According to reports in Zee News, China has been systematically sending its surveillance ships in the Indian Ocean Region to gather intelligence about the Indian naval bases and the warships deployed in the area. An intelligence report, accessed by Zee News, said that the Chinese Navy had lately stationed one of its latest intelligence-gathering ships – Dongdiao class ship Tianwangxing – in the IOR to keep an eye on the Indian naval installations.
The Chinese spy ship had entered into India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and stayed there for a few days. The Chinese spy ship was spotted very close to the eastern sea border near the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the report said.
PLAN ship Tianwangxing intruded into the EEZ and remained close to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the east coast of India for nearly two weeks. It may be noted that Tianwangxing of Type 815G Class is a very modern electronic surveillance ship of China. The presence of Chinese surveillance ship into the IOR is a matter of great concern for New Delhi.
”The PLAN has been regularly deploying Intelligence gathering ships into Indian Ocean Region (IOR), which is a matter of concern for us. Recently, we noticed that a surveillance ship infiltrated the Indian Ocean region in December last year and it was circling for about two weeks,” an official deployed stated.
Investigative agencies are trying to find out what information the Chinese spy ship had accumulated during its stay into the Indian water and was the motivation behind its deployment. ”We are also ascertaining the details of intelligence gathering equipment fitted onboard PLAN ship,” another senior official deployed at the security establishments said.
Dongdiao class ship is capable of conducting all-weather round-the-clock reconnaissance on multiple targets. The ship is fitted with highly advanced electronic surveillance systems that only a few countries like the US capable to develop it so far. The Ship is also able to track ballistic missiles. Dongdiao class ship has three satellite communication antennae. With the help of large-sized ball-shaped antennae, these ships can monitor electronic signal intelligence easily.
Via: Zee News, India
