Satellite Images Confirm Chinese Spy Vessel's Deployment In Indian Ocean Region In May

Last Updated:July 03, 2025, 22:04 IST

The Chinese vessel, Da Yang Yi Hao, was seen in the Indian Ocean in May, after India's Operation Sindoor against terror camps in Pakistan, raising concerns of snooping.

The Chinese spy ship, Da Yang Yi Hao. (News18)

New satellite images have emerged confirming the presence of Chinese survey vessel Da Yang Yi Hao in Indian waters in May, a few days after India launched Operation Sindoor against Beijing’s all-weather ally, Pakistan.

Da Yang Yi Hao, a geology and geophysics survey vessel equipped with a submersible vessel, was spotted in the Indian Ocean in May. Such vessels have entered India’s waters at the time of missile tests and other military activities under the pretext of collecting data.

This particular ship, seen entering the Bay of Bengal through the Malacca Strait, has been accused of snooping on missile tests, naval vessels and installations in the past.

According to new images shared by open-source intelligence expert Damien Symon, the Chinese research ship appeared to have concluded its deployment to the Indian Ocean and was observed operating in the Western IOR and Arabian Sea, surveying seafloor ridges/underwater features.

Earlier, government sources told CNN-News18 that the vessel’s mission is to test India’s maritime surveillance and response capabilities. “It aims to identify gaps in India’s ability to secure its waters, potentially weakening its credibility as a regional security provider," they said.

The Da Yang Yi Hao’s advanced sensors and hydrographic equipment allow China to monitor Indian warship movements, including INS Vikrant. The vessel can intercept communications between Indian Navy units, providing insights into Indian operational protocols and crisis responses, posing as a grave threat to India’s military secrets.

The presence of the vessel has heightened concerns in India, reflecting broader anxieties over China’s expanding influence in the Indian Ocean Region. India has flagged similar visits by other Chinese vessels in the Maldives and Sri Lanka.

Last year, India objected to the deployment of Xiang Yang Hong 3 in the Maldives, where it conducted oceanographic surveys for several weeks.

An American think-tank had previously alleged that a vast fleet of China’s “scientific research" ships is collecting data from the oceans, including in the Indian Ocean Region, for military purposes, a charge denied by Beijing.

Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

News world Satellite Images Confirm Chinese Spy Vessel's Deployment In Indian Ocean Region In May