'Lawnmower' Patterns of Chinese Research Vessel Raise Suspicions in Pacific

A Chinese research vessel's recent activities in Palau's waters have sparked concerns among security experts and local officials. The icebreaker Ji Di, designed for Arctic conditions, spent approximately 14 hours moving slowly within Palau's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in late May, covering about 74 kilometers.

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Their research vessels come into our EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone) uninvited and do whatever they want.

Palau's President Surangel Whipps Jr. expressed frustration, stating that Chinese research vessels "come into our EEZ uninvited and do whatever they want." He questioned the specific purpose and ultimate intention behind these incursions, especially given the vessel's advanced capabilities, which include a fleet of unmanned drones and underwater vehicles designed for environmental monitoring and data collection.

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What are they looking for, and what is the ultimate intention?

While China describes the Ji Di's mission as environmental monitoring and surveying in response to climate change, security analysts suggest a more strategic motive. They fear the vessel might be gathering intelligence that could support military operations, particularly in the context of potential future conflicts over Taiwan. This concern is amplified by the vessel's ability to map the sea floor and collect data on undersea minerals, ocean currents, and marine ecosystems.

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They're surveying over the top of our fibre optic cable and they have gear in the water, so for us it's a security concern.

These incursions are not isolated incidents. Palau has reported similar activities in previous years, including a 2023 incident where a Chinese vessel allegedly operated near Palau's vital fiber optic cable. The Pacific Centre of Island Security notes that sixteen Chinese research vessels have been deployed in the North Pacific this year alone. Experts like Jennifer Parker from the University of Western Australia believe the scale and location of these operations suggest intelligence gathering for submarine and anti-submarine warfare against the United States, given the strategic importance of the region.

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If you look at where Hawaii and Guam are, where US subs are based, and how they would operate across the Western Pacific, you can see why waters around Palau are important.