Zhu Hai Yun, among the array of sophisticated Chinese research vessels, has been identified by maritime experts as partaking in maneuvers near the coast of Taiwan, as uncovered by researchers at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in late 2023.
Distinguished by its state-of-the-art surveillance apparatus, Zhu Hai Yun navigated a trajectory indicative of its purpose to "test and investigate the surroundings around the island," according to assessments by maritime analysts.
Recent headlines have underscored the clandestine operations of another Chinese surveillance vessel, Xiang Wang Hong 03, operating covertly in the Indian Ocean, further amplifying concerns over China's maritime activities.
This revelation brings to light the dual nature of Chinese research vessels, often interwoven with military research endeavors. Through the scrutiny of satellite imagery and other accessible data, CSIS elucidates that "the boundaries between the Zhu Hai Yun and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) are markedly blurred."
The complex dynamic between Taiwan and China is characterized by intricate nuances, with many observers opining that the economic ramifications serve as a deterrent against the outbreak of full-scale hostilities.
However, the prospect of limited aggressive actions from China cannot be entirely discounted. Since 2020, the balance of military presence in the Taiwan Strait has gradually shifted in favor of China, heightening the risk of inadvertent confrontations owing to heightened PLA activity around Taiwan.
ZHU HAI YUN: A PIONEERING VESSEL
Zhu Hai Yun represents just one of the myriad Chinese research vessels traversing the world's oceans to gather crucial data on marine ecosystems. While China asserts that this data is indispensable for civilian, scientific, and commercial research endeavors, experts contend that it also serves military intelligence purposes.
What distinguishes Zhu Hai Yun from its counterparts, even among China's most advanced research fleet, is its cutting-edge capabilities, encompassing advanced navigation and control systems purportedly bolstered by artificial intelligence software, facilitating prolonged autonomous operations.
Functioning as a veritable "mothership," it boasts the capacity to transport and deploy upwards of 50 unmanned vehicles—including aerial, surface, and underwater drones—directly from its deck while in motion.
Harnessing the capabilities of Zhu Hai Yun as a central hub, these smaller platforms can concurrently survey a three-dimensional expanse spanning 160 kilometers across, 4,000 meters above, and 1,500 meters below the ocean’s surface, embodying a dual-use application.
"The Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs) and undersea gliders embarked on the Zhu Hai Yun are outfitted with advanced instrumentation such as side-scan sonar, a technology deemed valuable by Chinese naval researchers for detecting underwater targets such as mines and submarines. Other systems, such as aerial drones, can be employed for reconnaissance or monitoring missions in target areas," elucidates the CSIS report.
Brian Hart, a senior research fellow at CSIS, shed light on the activities of Zhu Hai Yun after an analysis of Chinese research vessel operations in the Indian Ocean Region.
Moreover, recent incidents involving Chinese coastguard vessels in the vicinity of Taiwan underscore the escalating tensions, with at least 11 such vessels detected around the island, signifying the highest number recorded this year.
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