The Chinese geophysical scientific research vessel Shi Yan 6'docks at a port in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in 2023, despite neighboring India's objections due to security concerns. File Photo by Chamila Karunarathne/EPA
July 9 (UPI) -- China's expanding marine research fleet is giving Beijing a powerful new instrument in the South China Sea and western Pacific: ships that sail under the banner of science but collect data with strategic value.
From Philippine waters near Scarborough Shoal and Reed Bank to Vietnam's exclusive economic zone and the waters around Taiwan-controlled Pratas Island, Chinese research and survey vessels are increasingly operating in contested maritime spaces.
Their stated missions often involve marine biology, hydrology, meteorology, seabed mapping, environmental monitoring and studying marine species that range from fisheries to dolphins and whales.
But for neighboring governments, these missions are rarely viewed as neutral scientific endeavors. Instead, they are increasingly seen as part of a broader gray-zone strategy -- non-military activities that help China normalize its presence, strengthen maritime claims and expand operational awareness without deploying naval force.
