China examines the Indian Ocean and increases its naval presence

The G7 and Quad will talk about China’s growing influence and its belligerent behaviour in the Indo-Pacific.
Chinese research and survey vessels are still operating in the vicinity of the 90-degree ridge after releasing the Mandarin names of 19 sea-bed features in the Indian Ocean to map the ocean for potential submarine expeditions into the Indo-Pacific.After nearly four months of ocean bed mapping in the Indian Ocean, the Chinese research/survey vessel Hai Yang Shi You 760 entered the Malacca Straits on April 13. According to the marine traffic website, the ship has restocked in the Indonesian port of Balikpapan and is now off the coast of Singapore on its way to the Chinese port of Zhangjiang.

Chinese research ships and strategic satellite tracking ships have been operating in the Indian Ocean region for the past ten years with the goal of developing a different sea route via Lombok, the Ombai-Wetar straits of Indonesia, and the southern Indian Ocean route to reach the eastern shores of Africa. Chinese nuclear submarines can easily enter the Indian Ocean via the Lombok and Ombai-Wetar straits without giving up their position and proceed towards Africa or patrol the Indo-Pacific, whereas submarines entering the Indian Ocean through the Malacca and Sunda Straits must surface due to depth restrictions.