A 4,500-ton Chinese research ship equipped with cutting-edge technology has returned to the waters of the Maldives, two months after docking at several ports within this island nation.
Two months after spending a week docked at various ports within this island nation, a 4,500-tonne Chinese research ship with advanced technology has returned to the waters of the Maldives. As per the article published on Friday by news portal Adhadhu.com, the Thilafushi industrial island’s harbor saw the docking of Xiang Yang Hong 03 on Thursday morning.
But “the government has not made public the rationale behind its reinstatement. Days after President Mohamed Muizzu, a pro-China leader led by the by the People’s National Congress, won the general election and secured 66 out of the 93 seats in the People’s Majlis, the statement claimed, “But the government previously confirmed permission for the ship to dock before its first visit.”
With a resounding majority victory in the legislative elections on April 21, Muizzu—who came to office on a platform of “India Out”—has further solidified his position. After avoiding the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), the ship has returned. Thus, since January, Xiang Yang Hong 03 has been operating inside or close to Maldivian territory, according to the statement.
Approximately 7.5 kilometers west of Male, on February 23, the ship had previously docked at the same Thilafushi port. The cutting-edge vessel spent over a month close to the edge of the Maldives’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) before arriving in Maldivian seas on February 22. After roughly six days, the ship returned to the EEZ boundary.
After the Maldives government submitted a diplomatic appeal to China, the Maldivian government announced in February that the Xiang Yang Hong 3 was on its way to “make a port call for the rotation of its personnel and replenishment.” On January 23, the Foreign Ministry declared that “the vessel would not be conducting any research while in the Maldivian waters.”
The 2020 rape judgment of Harvey Weinstein is overturned by a New York appellate court.
Local media sources in February made information about the type of vessel Xiang Yang Hong 03 available: The State Oceanic Administration (SOA) of China acquired the 100-meter-long vessel in 2016. At the moment, China only has one 4,500-ton ship. At China’s Pilot Ocean Laboratory, China has been utilizing the ship for “deep sea” and “distant water” studies since 2019.
According to the statement, the vessel can also be utilized for investigations into salinity, microbial genetics, undersea mineral exploration, and environmental and biological studies. It is equipped with data buoys that measure waves, currents in the water, and other critical environmental data. The report went on to say that the Chinese government will receive real-time satellite information from these buoys.
