FOLLOWING Sri Lanka's imposition of a one-year moratorium on Chinese research vessels docking in its ports, a US think tank is unveiling covert operations conducted by China's research ships, reports Fort Lauderdale's Maritime Executive.

While widespread belief exists that China utilises research vessels for military and espionage purposes, a recent study is shedding light on these activities.

China boasts the world's largest fleet of civilian research vessels, covering vast distances in oceanic expeditions, primarily for scientific and commercial goals. However, the Washington-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) reveals that these vessels are also instrumental in advancing China's strategic ambitions.

Over the past four years, CSIS has tracked China's oceanographic missions, identifying 64 active research and survey vessels globally.

Utilising satellite imagery from the Windward Intelligence Platform and open-source data analysis, the study exposes details not covered in Beijing's official narrative on research vessel activities.

CSIS claims that more than 80 per cent of the 64 vessels exhibit suspicious behavior or possess organisational links indicating involvement in advancing Beijing's geopolitical agenda.

Out of these, 52 vessels display at least two warning indicators.

The think tank substantiates its findings by highlighting three vessels involved in military strategies.

One of them, Xiang Yang Hong 06, conducted a 10,000-kilometre survey of the Indian Ocean over 110 days in 2019 and 2020, deploying underwater gliders and floats believed to serve covert security and military purposes.

Another example is the seismic survey ship Hai Yang Shi You 760, which carried out a four-month ocean bed mapping mission in early 2023.

The seismic and bathymetric data collected during this mission could hold significant value for the People's Liberation Army (PLA). Additionally, the research mission by Shiyan 06 in the eastern Indian Ocean in October last year is linked to the South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, an institute supporting China's militarisation of the South China Sea.