Three years after its controversial arrival in the Indian Ocean, China’s Yuan Wang 5 has once again been tracked near the region, sparking concern within India’s security establishment.

According to Indian and Bangladeshi naval sources, the vessel was located at 11.0288° S, 100.9873° E at 02:38 UTC (8:10 pm IST) on Saturday via the Automatic Identification System (AIS). The ship, which left Indonesia around 36 hours earlier, is believed to be heading toward the Bay of Bengal.

Bangladeshi naval officers have been openly monitoring the movements, while Indian officials remain tightlipped. However, national security sources confirmed that the ship’s re-entry is being taken “very seriously.”

Intelligence-gathering role

Although officially designated as a “research ship,” the Yuan Wang 5 is widely recognised as a sophisticated intelligence-gathering and space-tracking platform. It belongs to China’s latest generation of surveillance vessels, capable of monitoring satellite launches, rocket trajectories, and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).

Defence analysts have long viewed its presence in the Indian Ocean as part of Beijing’s expanding military footprint in South Asia.
The Yuan Wang 5 last made headlines in August 2022, when it docked at Sri Lanka’s Chinese-built Hambantota Port, despite strong objections from New Delhi.

At the time, China defended its deployment as “marine scientific research.” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said that its movements were consistent with international law and “should not be obstructed by any third party.”

Strategic timing raises alarm

The latest movements coincide with the conclusion of US-Bangladesh joint exercise Pacific Angel-2025, held in Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar. About 120 US Air Force officers participated in the drills alongside Bangladeshi Army and Air Force personnel, departing on September 20.
Indian defence analysts warn that the Yuan Wang 5’s presence may be intended to gather intelligence not just on space activities but also on regional military cooperation—especially as India and the United States deepen security ties in South Asia.

While Beijing continues to describe the vessel’s activities as scientific, New Delhi views its reappearance as a strategic signal amid increasing Indo-Pacific tensions. With assembly elections in Bangladesh next year and growing US engagement in the region, the return of Yuan Wang 5 has once again sharpened the spotlight on China’s maritime ambitions close to India’s shores.

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