The Arabian Sea, off the coasts of Gujarat and Mumbai, is seeing a worrying development. Hundreds of Chinese vessels are cruising these waters.
A senior naval commander from the Indian Naval Defence Advisory Group reported that most Chinese vessels are strategically positioned just outside India's current Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), which ends at 200 nautical miles.
Initially, there were only a few vessels. Now, the number has increased from one hundred to one hundred fifty. Officials are tight-lipped about the possible origin of these vessels. However, it's noted that small boats need frequent refuelling. And Karachi is conveniently positioned near the Gujarat coast.
These vessels are not just fishing boats. They can also act as "spy ships." According to reports, they can collect information on everything from submarine locations to Indian port activities and hidden pipes.
The Western Naval Command is carefully following the rapid increase of Chinese vessels. Front-line warships have been dispatched to neutralise any signs of China escalating tensions in grey areas, similar to their tactics in the South China Sea.
Many of these Chinese vessels are on watchlists, including those of Greenpeace and the US Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control.
India has petitioned the UN to extend its EEZ in the Arabian Sea to 500 nautical miles, up from the current 200 nautical miles.
Senior representatives of the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi deny any infringement within the Indian EEZ. They claim that any intelligence reports are contrived to tarnish the reputation of the People's Republic of China.
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