China has a large naval footprint in the Indian Ocean. The most recent satellite images show that Chinese warships, a submarine, and fleet support ships are docked at Karachi harbor in Pakistan.
This news comes at the same time as the start of the Sea Guardian-3 naval drills in the Arabian Sea. These are the biggest naval exercises that Beijing and Islamabad have ever done together.
China has been doing a lot more in the Indian Ocean lately, including building a big base in Djibouti in the Horn of Africa. This is happening at the same time as the Sea Guardian-3 drills.
China has also improved the naval power of the area by selling advanced platforms. For example, it recently gave four Type-054 A/P frigates to the Pakistan Navy.
The Pakistan Navy is also getting eight conventional subs from China that are being built with independent air propulsion.
In the Indian Ocean over the past year, Chinese spy and oceanographic survey ships have been seen. This shows that Beijing is becoming more interested in the sea.
The fact that Chinese naval assets, such as a Type 039 submarine, are in Karachi shows that China can project naval power in faraway seas. Since 2013, this is the eighth time that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has sent a submarine to the Indian Ocean.
China’s maritime efforts in the Indian Ocean reach the Bay of Bengal. Ships like the Shi Yan 6 have been seen doing oceanographic and surveillance surveys in this area. There are rumors that China is busy mapping the waters of the Indian Ocean, including the Bay of Bengal, so that they can do a lot of submarine operations in the area.
Indian Navy P8 surveillance planes have been keeping a close eye on the Type-039 submarine and the support ship that is with it in Karachi. It was possible to track these assets from the time they came into the area through the Malacca Straits. This shows how important it is to keep an eye on and respond to China’s naval operations in the Indian Ocean.
