Syllabus: GS-II
Subject: International Relations
Topic: India and its Neighborhood
Context: Steady rise in the deployment of Chinese research vessels in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
Previously Chinese ‘spy ship’ Yuan Wang 5 which is a dual-use ship for tracking satellites, rockets and intercontinental ballistic missiles docked at the Hambantota port in Sri Lanka.
Concerns for India:
- Challenge to India’s dominance in the region.
- Proximity to Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep Islands which are at strategic locations.
- Collection and Interception of intelligence in the name of scientific research.
Places in News: