Chinese warship intercepted for violating Indian waters

Sources told DTNext that the ship had entered the Indian waters without prior permission and has been intercepted by the Indian Coast Guard vessel. The Chinese ship was reportedly on its way to Sri Lanka, where China is trying to establish a strong presence and to build a military station to win a strategic location in this part of the world. 

Indian Coast Guard authorities had spotted the ship late in the night near Tuticorin and had passed on the information to the top defence officials in Delhi. Due to diplomatic pressure, this issue has been hushed up by the authorities and when contacted the Indian Coast Guard authorities refused to comment on the issue. Defence sources here said that Indian Coast Guard, which communicated with the crew of the Chinese ship had asked them to clear Indian waters. However, this incident was not recorded in the official report of Coast Guard. 

“There are diplomatic pressures and we have been told not to speak about the issue. Coast Guard was also told to hush up the details. The agency was first briefed to issue a clarification but later that was also dropped,” a defence source on request of anonymity told DTNext. 

India has been suspicious about the growing friendship between Sri Lanka and China and Indian defence agencies have been trying to establish their supremacy over the Palk Straits. Experts point out that spotting of a Chinese ship establish the growing Chinese influence in Indian Ocean.