India recently issued a NOTAM notice declaring the Bay of Bengal as a no-fly zone ahead of another Agni-5 ballistic missile test scheduled for December 15-16 from Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha.
The development comes amid reported activity of a Chinese research vessel in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). According to data collected by Norwegian company Maritime Optima, as informed of By impression, Yuan Wang 5 re-entered the Indian Ocean region earlier on Monday. The report said that Yuan Wang 5 was currently south in the Indian Ocean off the coast of the Indonesian island of Java.
News comes only after a week India issued a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen/Notice to Air Mission) about a missile test in the Andaman and Nicobar region, and a few days later Yuan Wang 5 appeared in the opposite direction in response to India’s NOTAM, the report further stated On 2 December, open source geospatial intelligence analyst Damien Simon speculated on the return of the Chinese vessel to the Indian Ocean region.
Amidst the developments, News18 talks about Agni V missile, China’s interest in the Indian Ocean region and why it is an issue.
About Agni V Missile
Agni V is India’s long-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile, capable of hitting targets up to 5,000 km away with pinpoint accuracy. This range puts almost the entire country of China in the range of the missile. Although an ICBM requires a missile with a range of at least 5,500 km, India’s closest contender for an ICBM is the Agni 5, which can reach countries on other continents, including parts of Africa and Europe. report good By Indian Express telling.
Although the government claims that it has a maximum range of around 5,000 km, several reports indicate that it can hit targets up to 8,000 km, as per reports. The nuclear-capable missile can carry a warhead weighing around 1,500 kg and has a launch weight of 50,000 kg, making it one of the most powerful missiles in the country.
In 1989, India began testing the Agni missile series with the first test of the Agni I, an intermediate range ballistic missile with a range of approximately 1,000 km. At the time, only the United States, the former Soviet Union, China, France, and Israel possessed IRBM technology. Since then, DRDO laboratories have continued to work on it, bringing the latest available Agni V to its current capability. Apart from IRBM-capable nations, only North Korea and the United Kingdom currently possess ICBM technology.
China in the Indian Ocean region
The spy research ship is one of four active ships in the Yuan Wang-class, which is in charge of tracking and supporting satellites as well as intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).
Agni-5 has a declared range of 5,000 km, which allows it to strike deep into China, which is why this ballistic missile has caused so much panic in China, according to a report first term Explained.
Now it has to be seen whether the missile will be tested on time or the timing will be changed. The timing was changed last month when the Agni-III missile with a range of 3,000 km was test-fired. report good By first term Told.
All countries are allowed to navigate their ships in international waters. That is why India cannot intercept the Chinese spy ship, which is part of the PLA’s Strategic Support Force and whose primary mission is to track and support satellites and ballistic missiles. Chinese ships frequently visit the Indian Ocean to collect data and make oceanographic maps.
China’s interest in IOR
China recently held the “China-Indian Ocean Region Forum” on November 21 in Kunming. The China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) meeting is the latest Chinese initiative to focus on the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), highlighting Beijing’s growing strategic interests. region where its economic footprint is expanding, a report good By Hindu Explained.
According to CIDCA, China’s new development assistance agency, currently headed by former Vice Foreign Minister Luo Zhaohui, the forum was “the first high-level official development cooperation forum jointly organized by China and countries in the Indian Ocean region”. “Over 100 participants including senior officials from 19 countries bordering the Indian Ocean.”
The forum issued a “joint press statement” in which it said that China “proposed to establish a maritime disaster prevention and mitigation cooperation mechanism between China and countries in the Indian Ocean region” and to “strengthen policy coordination, deepen “All parties agree” to “sustain” development cooperation, enhance resilience to shocks and disasters, and the capacity of respective countries to derive economic benefits through the use of marine resources such as fisheries, renewable energy, tourism and shipping increasing exponentially,” the report said.
The report pointed out that the forum highlighted China’s growing interest in the IOR, where it is already a major trading partner for most countries and where the sea lanes are vital to China’s economic interests. The CIDCA Forum is the latest initiative to reflect Beijing’s view that it has a clear stake in the region, and in the future. Earlier this year, during a visit to Sri Lanka, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi proposed setting up a forum “on the development of Indian Ocean island countries” to “build consensus and synergy, and promote common development”. was. He urged Sri Lanka to “play an important role” in this initiative. The escalation of regional diplomacy comes as China establishes a more frequent military presence in IOR waters. Beijing established its first overseas military base in Djibouti, near the Horn of Africa. Chinese military ships, tracking ships, and submarines have become frequent visitors to the region’s ports.
With at least 355 warships, China’s PLA Navy (PLAN) is the largest naval force in the world. In addition, it has established logistics bases in Cambodia, Seychelles and Mauritius as well as East African countries.
read all latest explainer Here