Chinese vessels engaging in military work in Indian Ocean: Navy Chief

India is closely monitoring Chinese dual-purpose civilian ships that are suspected of performing military roles. The Navy has flagged concerns about these civilian vessels, which are reportedly engaging in military-related activities at sea.

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'This isn’t allowed'

"We are aware that they (Chinese vessels) are not doing what they have declared. We are watching them… In many cases, we have told them this is not allowed here: Admiral DK Tripathi, Navy Chief

Navy Chief Admiral DK Tripathi addressed the issue on Wednesday, stating, “We are aware that some of the vessels from China have dual purposes. They are not doing what they have declared. We are watching them and monitoring their activities. In many cases, we have called out these ships and told them that this is not allowed here.” Admiral Tripathi made these comments during a discussion titled “Deepwater Perils: Securing Trade” on the final day of the Raisina Dialogue.

On the panel, Admiral Tripathi was joined by top military commanders from Quad countries, including Admiral Justin Jones, Chief of Joint Operations of Australia; Admiral Samuel Paparo, Commander of US Indo-Pacific Command; and General Yoshihide Yoshida, Chief of Staff of the Joint Staff of Japan. General Romeo S Brawner, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, also participated, representing a country that is engaged in a maritime dispute with China in the South China Sea.

In the past, Chinese survey vessels have been spotted in international waters in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. These vessels are equipped with advanced hydrography equipment to map the seabed, which can be crucial during a crisis to understand potential submarine routes.

While addressing security challenges in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), Admiral Tripathi emphasised, “One navy alone cannot do everything. Together we are not constrained. We believe the IOR is our responsibility to maintain peace and tranquillity, ensuring unhindered trade. We are working with multiple partners and countries.”

He added, “We are capable of maintaining maritime domain awareness on what is happening at any given point in time.” Admiral Tripathi also noted that the Navy needed to ensure that it was prepared to address both current and emerging challenges and was advancing across all domains to remain future-ready.

Meanwhile, Admiral Samuel Paparo commented on Taiwan, noting that Chinese President Xi Jinping’s declaration to reunify Taiwan by 2027 did not necessarily mean China would wait until then to take action. “The US policy is that the Taiwan issue should be resolved peacefully,” he said. When asked about potential Chinese actions, Admiral Paparo explained that it could involve anything from a blockade to a full invasion.

General Brawner provided details on the South China Sea dispute, specifically regarding the 1995 construction of a structure by China on Mischief Reef, located 150 km from the Philippines and about 1,270 km from China. In 2013, China began claiming Mischief Reef as its own and it has since developed it into a strategic military outpost with a 2.7-km runway, air defence missiles and a deep-sea port. The expansion of this reef and the structures built on it have given China effective control over the entire South China Sea.