The Maldives government does not believe that Chinese vessel Xiang Yang Hong 03 conducted any research related to the Maldives despite docking in Male' twice and skirting Maldivian territorial waters for three months before departing for China, Fisheries Minister Ahmed Shiyam has said.
Speaking in Adhadhu's "Etherefuh" program, Shiyam said he had not been informed about the ship conducting research in Maldivian waters. The current government previously cancelled a hydrography agreement with India for underwater research, he noted.
"We don't know that they did anything that would have affected us. Or else we weren't unaware that the research vessel did anything related to us and I don't believe that they did," Shiyam said.
If the Chinese vessel conducted such research, Shiyam said he believed it would have been done in collaboration with the Maldives government, adding that he would share further information after clarification.
The most modern research vessel in the Chinese fleet at present began its journey to the Maldives on January 14, 2024, 24 hours after President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu concluded his state visit to China.
The Chinese ship arrived near the Maldives on January 29, 2024. The vessel docked in Male' for the first time on February 22. After heading back to the boundary of the Maldives' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) again, the vessel returned after a month and docked in the Thilafushi harbour on April 25, 2024.
The Chinese ship is currently in the Java Sea near Indonesia, Adhadhu found using satellite AIS tracking. The vessel is travelling on the same route that it took to the Maldives for its return to China.
Tracking data on the ship's activity shows that the Chinese vessel sailed within the Maldives EEZ on several occasions over the past three months. The Chinese vessel entered several miles within Maldivian territory southwest of Addu.
The Foreign Ministry previously confirmed the ship's arrival following media reports. In a statement released in February, the Foreign Ministry said the Chinese vessel was due to visit the Maldives for replenishment of stocks and the rotation of its crew. The ship is expected to have docked in Thilafushi twice for these purposes.
