A Chinese research ship swiftly moved along India's eastern coast and is currently positioned in international waters near the Indian coastline, just days following India's warning about an imminent missile launch off the Odisha coast. 

India's Agni-5 missile, equipped with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicles (MIRVs), underwent a successful test on Monday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi confirmed the successful test in a tweet on the social media platform X 

The Chinese research vessel, Xian Yang Hong 01, is currently positioned approximately 480 kilometers, or under 260 nautical miles, from the Visakhapatnam coast. Visakhapatnam hosts three of India's nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines, representing some of the nation's most critical military assets. 

Speculation circulated about India's readiness to launch the K-4, a nuclear-capable missile designed for submarine deployment. Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), the missile is capable of carrying warheads weighing up to two tons. 

A NOTAM advisory was sent out last week in advance of the test. Notification to Airmen, or NOTAM, is the term for notifications that are used to declare an area off-limits to flying. The warning, which was for the Bay of Bengal region, was interpreted as a blatant sign that India was preparing a missile launch, which might happen at any time between March 11 and 16. The NOTAM alert designates a 3,500-kilometer no-fly zone that extends well south of the Bay of Bengal. 

The events off the coast of India occurred a few weeks after alarms were raised in New Delhi by another Chinese ship of the same class. 

The Xiang Yang Hong 03 landed in the Maldives last month and is currently surveying the area off the coast of Sri Lanka. Following President Mohamed Muizzu of the Maldives’ request for the withdrawal of Indian forces, tensions between New Delhi and Male increased. After Muizzu became President of the Maldives last year, ties between India and the country have never been better. After meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, Muizzu declared, “We may be small, but this doesn’t give them the licence to bully us.” The comment, which omitted any nation names, was spotted. 

India has sought to minimize the tension in its relationship with the Maldives. External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar emphasized the interdependence between neighbouring countries, acknowledging the significant influence of geography and history on their interactions. 

Despite the Maldives' assurance that the Chinese vessel docking in Male last month was for "rotation and replenishment" purposes only, India's concerns extended beyond Maldivian waters. The vessel has been navigating in a meandering path through the water passages between Sri Lanka and the Maldives. 

Image Source: TN