Indian Navy's spy planes P-8I spotted Chinese amphibious warship Xian-32 in the southern Indian Ocean region earlier in September. Pictures of Landing Platform Dock Xian 32 clicked by P-8I surveillance aircraft in the first week of September before it entered Sri Lankan waters surfaced, when news agency ANI reported it.

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Indian Navy tracks Chinese Frigate

P-8I anti-submarine warfare and long-range surveillance aircraft have clicked the pictures of the Chinese vessels and are constantly tracking their activities and movements. Photos of Chinese vessels were released by the news agency attributing Indian Navy. The Chinese Landing Platform Dock Xian-32 can be seen passing through the Southern Indian Ocean Region before it entered the Sri Lankan waters earlier this month.

The Chinese Navy deploys around six to seven warships in order to carry anti-piracy drills in the Gulf of Aden which is a heavy number considering the meagre requirement in the region. Their primary motive appears to be the projection of their forces in the Indian Ocean Region as they want to spread their influence in the area from where a majority of their trade passes through the region. Since 2008, the Chinese Navy has shown regular presence in the Indian Ocean region in the name of the anti-piracy force. However, they are being constantly monitored during their presence in the Indian ocean when they pass closer to Indian exclusive economic zone and territorial waters, sources said.

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Indian Navy fleet expansion

Indian Navy has only one aircraft carrier which is operational- INS Vikramaditya, while the second being an indigenous carrier is under construction at the Cochin Shipyard Limited. Indian Navy has asserted a requirement of building a third aircraft carrier of over 60,000 tonnes to have a capability of deployment for longer periods. Indian Navy wants a minimum strength of three aircraft carriers with the functionality of two aircraft carriers at any given point of time.

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"Indian Navy ships were also Mission Deployed for Operation 'GULFDEP' in the Persian Gulf, Operation 'CENTDEP' in the central Indian Ocean Region, Operation 'NORDEP' in the northern Bay of Bengal and Operation 'MALDEP' in the Andaman Sea and approaches to the Malacca Strait," Navy officials said.

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(With ANI inputs)